Station 40, Chiriu: The Poet Ariwara No Narihira At Eight Bridges Poem by Debora Greger

Station 40, Chiriu: The Poet Ariwara No Narihira At Eight Bridges



What is sky but water, more water,
crossed by eight bridges?
Is the ancient poet in a rush to reach land?

No, he's already one of the Six Immortals.
How long before the papery iris-petals
he admires wrinkle? They barely grow beards.

In a thousand years, pilgrims will come.
They will stand where he stood. Where, they will ask,
are the flowers that empurpled his poem?

Thursday, January 29, 2015
Topic(s) of this poem: poem
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Debora Greger

Debora Greger

Walsenburg / Colorado
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