Nature

Spring and Autumn

by Classical Japanese Poets 7th–10th centuries

Translated by Basil Hall Chamberlain (1900) · From Miscellaneous Poems

Nature

When winter turns to spring,
Birds that were songless make their songs resound,
Flow'rs that were flow'rless cover all the ground;
Yet 'tis no perfect thing:--
I cannot walk, so tangled is each hill;
So thick the herbs I cannot pluck my fill.
But in the autumn-tide
I cull the scarlet leaves and love them dear,
And let the green leaves stay, with many a tear,
All on the fair hill-side:--
No time so sweet as that. Away! Away!
Autumn's the time I fain would keep alway.

✦ ✦ ✦

By Ohogimi.

MLA

Classical Japanese Poets. “Spring and Autumn.” Translated by Basil Hall Chamberlain. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/classical-japanese-poets/34/.

Chicago

Classical Japanese Poets. “Spring and Autumn.” Translated by Basil Hall Chamberlain. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/classical-japanese-poets/34/.

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