PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

I have been reading Asian poetry on and off for a couple decades now. I have always maintained an affection for the haiku style. I enjoy the brevity of the form. These are poets able to compact a lot into relatively few words and syllables. 

Most poetry from Japan and China tends to be short. The Asian poets don't seem to feel the same need for meandering that many Western poets have. They are also quite willing to leave something to the reader's imagination. This can make for an intriguing reading experience. I always find myself pausing to mull over these brief verses. 

A recent addition to my library has been Lotus Moon: The Poetry of Rengetsu. Rengetsu was born Otagaki Nobu in 1791. She was twice married and widowed with three children before being ordained as a Buddhist nun. The name Rengetsu means Lotus Moon.   She became quite adept at both poetry and pottery. Often she inscribed her poems onto her pottery. These became valuable items even in her own lifetime.

This small volume from White Pine Press includes close to 100 pages of poems as well as pictures interspersed throughout the volume. Unfortunately, no explanation is given of the pictures. Presumably the pictures are of Rengetsu's pottery and handwritten copies of her poems. 

The poems are divided by the four seasons. We begin with Spring and work our way through Summer and Autumn to get to Winter. There is also a selection of poems called Miscellaneous. Translator John Stevens notes in the preface that this was a standard sequence for volumes of Japanese poems. Rengetsu predominantly wrote in the waka style. This is a five line, 31 syllable for of poetry. The normal breakdown will be either 7-7-5-7-5 or 5-7-5-7-7. 

Most Buddhist and Asian poetry tends to go more for invoking feelings. The poets tend to simply reflect on the world that surrounds them. Most of the poems reflect on nature and on the changing seasons. Spring Moon  showcases this well: 

In the moonlight /Of early Spring/ Lingering snow/ Bids farewell to a village/ Yearning for its first flower.

That sounds a lot like Spring fever to me. It's very simple and direct. That is the way most Japanese poetry is written. There is little attempt at telling a story or moralizing. The poet is simply ruminating on a moment and capturing the feeling in brief verse. The poet reflects much on the movement of seasons. Change of Garment also shows the movement of time:

I'll be changing into/My summer robes today/But my heart is/Still stained with/ The color of Spring blossoms

 Again this is pure simplicity. She has greatly enjoyed the Spring season and retains the memories as the weather warms and she readies herself for summer. Most of the poetry draws along the lines of placing oneself wholly in the moment. A Buddhist poet can reflect on one's own loneliness and happiness but places it in context with the world that surrounds her. 

Of course, one of the gripes against a lot of Asian poetry will always be that it is hard to figure out what it means. Many Western readers tend to insist on having a moral behind a story or a poem. This is poetry that is largely intended to spark a visceral or emotional response. One does not have to seek out meaning with this verse. It is best to just enjoy the subtle beauty of the words and images. It is also highly enjoyable to me to just bask in the poet's keen perception and observation on her world. 

There are quite a few fine poems throughout this volume. The pictures do add something to the verse. I've always enjoyed Japanese calligraphy and the pottery looks interesting. The beer geek in me really enjoyed her nod to sake. I was thinking a woman after my own heart. Her poem was simply titled Sake:

 Enjoy delicious sake/ Without overdoing it/ And it becomes/ An elixir that eases /Old age and death.