Leaf 146 – Art Inspired
This poem was probably written
with Saigyō’s famous poem about a pine tree at Shiogoshi half in mind.
Bashō
states that: ‘Should anyone dare to write another poem on this pine tree, it
would be like trying to add a sixth finger to his hand.’* – So, on second
thoughts, I think my poem must be about another pine tree!
Arched like a wave,
a wind-sculpted pine
extends all its fingers.
*Matsuo Bashō, The Narrow Road to the
Deep North and other travel sketches, translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa (Penguin,
1966), p. 138. Yuasa’s translation of Saigyō’s poem:
Inviting the wind to carry
Salt waves of the sea,
The pine tree of Shiogoshi
Trickles all night long
Shiny drops of moonlight.
