Of Saigyõ(1118-1190)

Watching from the sidelines,

on those roads beyond the gates

composing conversation

with life, religion, nature

as power shifted hands

and sea took child emperor and court...

So far away from his time

as one of the old emperor's

youthful playthings in armour

that he had to come up with

a world of his own,

world of words and memory

made into words,

religion the unchanging change

behind a crumbling order

and clashing swords,

blood on the fields.

18.04.2015