6-6-2007 (SOUTH) Japanese Poetry

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