The Kokinshu: Okibi
flowing waters
not even the source is known-
river of lonely tears
will the depths be known
at last when it has turned to dust?
~~Miyako no Yoshika
The Kokinshu is a compilation of well over a thousand short poems composed by Japanese poets in the Heian period (as ordered by Emperer Uda). It dates all the way back roughly to the year 905. I have fallen in love with these poems! The book I'm pulling these poems from deserve the following credits: John Timothy Wixted (Author), Leonard Grzanka (Author), Laurel Rasplica Rodd (Translator), Mary Catherine Henkenius (Translator) The book itself can be purchased on Amazon if you follow this link. Please keep in mind that The Kokinshu has been published by many different publishers and translated by many different people over time. I'm simply sharing with you the translations from one book.