Only Companion by Sam Hamill

Author:Sam Hamill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala

Without beginning,

utterly without end,

the mind is born

to struggles and distresses,

and dies—and that is emptiness.

Hajime naku

owari mo naki ni

waga kokoro

umare shisuru

mo ku no ku nari

—IKKYŪ SŌJUN

Like vanishing dew,

a passing apparition

or the sudden flash

of lightning—already gone—

thus should one regard one’s self.

Tsuyu to kie

maboroshi to kie

inazuma no

kage no gotoku ni

mi wa omou beshi

—IKKYŪ SŌJUN

The moon is a house

in which the mind is master.

Look very closely:

only impermanence lasts.

This floating world, too, will pass.

Tsuki wa ie

kokoro wa nushi to

miru toki wa

nao kari no yo no

sumai naru keri

—IKKYŪ SŌJUN

And what is mind

and how is it recognized?

It is clearly drawn

in sumi ink, the sound

of breezes drifting through pine.

Kokoro towa

ikanaru mono wo

iu yaran

sumie ni kakashi

matsukaze no oto

—IKKYŪ SŌJUN

Everyone’s journey

through this world is the same,

so I won’t complain.

Here on the plains of Nasu

I place my trust in the dew.

Nagakeji yo

kono yo wa tare mo

uki tabi to

omoinasu no no

tsuyu ni makasete

—SŌGI

To each thing its own

true deepest inner nature:

water does not think

of itself as the consort

of the bright moonlight it hosts.

Onozukara naru

kotowari o miyo

yadosu to mo

mizu wa omowanu

tsuki sumite

—SŌGI

Now what can I do?

My writing hand in a cast

is useless—

can’t manipulate chopsticks,

can’t even wipe my ass!

Ika ni sen

mono kakisusabu

te wa okite

hashi toru koto to

shiri noguu koto

—SŌCHŌ

How utterly vain!

The great old men of China

arguing reason

before they can articulate

the origin of things.

Kusuwashiki

kotowari shirazute

Karahito no

mono no kotowari

toku ga hakanasa

—MOTOORI NORINAGA

Coming to visit

the Western Capital’s

old, crumbling ruins,

listen: Han Shan’s temple bell,

in the evening, tolling.

Arehateshi

nishi no miyako ni

kite mireba

Kanzeonji no

irai no kane

—SENGAI GIBON

Was it all a dream—

I mean those old bygone days—

were they what they seemed?

All night long I lie awake

listening to autumn rain.

Somo kami wo

omoeba yume ka

utsutsu ka mo

yoru wa shigure no

ame wo kikitsutsu

—RYŌKAN

What might I leave you

as a last gift when my time comes?

Springtime flowers,

the cuckoo singing all summer,

the yellow leaves of autumn.

Katami tote

nani ka nokosan

haru wa hana

natsu hototogisu

aki wa momijiba

—RYŌKAN

Following his bath,

I gave my handsome lover

my best purple robe

to keep him from the cold.

He blushed, and was beautiful.

Yuagari o

mikaze mesuna no

waga uwagi

enjimurasaki

hito utsukushiki

—YOSANO AKIKO

My shining black hair

fallen into disarray,

a thousand tangles,

like a thousand tangled thoughts

about my love for you.

Kurokami no

sensuji no kami no

midaregami

katsu omoi midare

omoi midaruru

—YOSANO AKIKO

The handsome boatman

singing, floating the river,

fills me with longing—

he’s thrilled just remembering

last night’s port-of-call girl.

Haru no kawa

noriai-bune no

wakaki ko ga

yobe no tomari no

uta netamashiki

—YOSANO AKIKO

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