Nature
I’ve seen thee but a few short hours
Translated by William N. Porter (1909) · From A Hundred Verses from Old Japan (Hyakunin Isshu), poem 88
Nature
I’ve seen thee but a few short hours;
As short, they seemed to me,
As bamboo reeds at Naniwa;
But tide-stakes in the sea
Can’t gauge my love for thee.
Cite this poem
MLA
Bettō, Kōkamonin no. “I’ve seen thee but a few short hours.” Translated by William N. Porter. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/kokamonin-no-betto/0/.
Chicago
Bettō, Kōkamonin no. “I’ve seen thee but a few short hours.” Translated by William N. Porter. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/kokamonin-no-betto/0/.