Lesson:
We took a reading quiz for
Samurai's Garden.
Today we took a look at Japanese poetry. To get an idea of this please analyze the following poems and turn in your analysis for extra credit.
On a withered branch
A crow has settled –
autumn nightfall.
- Matsuo Basho
Even stones in streams
of mountain water compose
songs to wild cherries.
- Uejima Onitsura
On top of skeletons
they put a gala dress, and then –
the flower-viewing!
- Uejima Onitsura (1660-1738)
This perfectly still
spring day bathed in the soft light
from the spread-out sky.
Why do the cherry blossoms
So restlessly scatter down?
- Ki no Tomonori
When I went to visit
The girl I love so much,
That winter night
The river blew so cold
That the plovers were crying.
- Ki Tsurayuki
The clustering clouds –
Can it be they wipe away
The lunar shadows?
Every time they clear a bit
The moonlight shines brighter.
- Minamoto no Toshiyori
We also played some poetry games. They were super fun.
IN addition, we picked a name for a classmate for whom you will be writing a tanka poem. Please check with me to find out who you have.
Tanka
“short songs”
5 lines
31 syllables
5-7-5-7-7
HMWK: Read up to page 159
3rd assignment for your group due next class
