Yosano Akiko

Here are two short poems for a Saturday morning by Yosano Akiko (December 7, 1878 – May 29, 1942), Japanese poet, essayist, autobiographer, and novelist.

One of the most prominent figures in modern Japanese literature, she was a representative “new woman” at the turn of the 20th century, whose first collection of Tanka poetry, Midaregami (Tangled Hair, 1901) caused a sensation among her contemporaries for its newness of theme and style, characterized by direct expressions of passion in an uninhibited, sensual language.

Similar to Haiku, Tanka is a poetry form that originated in Japan more than 13 centuries ago. In its purest form, Tanka poems are most commonly written as expressions of gratitude, love, or self-reflection.

Poem 2
Translated by Kenneth Rexroth

Not speaking of the way,
Not thinking of what comes after,
Not questioning name or fame,
Here, loving love,
You and I look at each other.

--Yosano Akiko

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Poem 5
Translated by Sanford Goldstein and S. Shinoda

In my bath--
Submerged like some graceful lily
At the bottom of a spring,
How beautiful
This body of twenty summers.

--Yosano Akiko