As I looked forward to see red maple leaves from before, I decided to visit Jyojakko-ji, (常寂光寺）, a temple which is located in north west of Kyoto prefecture.
It took about twenty minutes walk from JR Arashiyama station, and then an old house, Rakushi-sha(落柿舎） where one of pupils of Basho lived in, came to be seen near the temple I addressed for.
In the gate of Jyojyakko-ji, many maple trees greet visitors.
The leaves stand out against autumn sky, sometimes shining sometimes shimmering with subtle change of sunlight .
The garden of the temple has slope inclination, and some steep stone steps lead us at the very peak of the garden.
From there we can make a sweep of town in Kyoto that is surrounded by layers of small mountains like Nara where I live in.
Another reason that invited me here is to visit a grave of James Kirkup (1918～2009). It is on the grave yard next to this temple.
One of my tanka friends gave me an information that says James Kirkup passed away in Andorra, and later his secretary brought a part of his remains to bury it in Japan where James loved and worked for translation of Japanese poetry.
I did not dare to take a photo of his tomb that was made of natural brown stones and his name for another world were curved in kanji ( on a pole beside the tomb his real name was written), instead I'd like to offer this maple leaves for his soul.
And let me introduce one of his translations which is found in a book, "Fumi Saito in Thickets of Memory ".
花が水がいつせいにふるえる時間なり眼（め）に見えぬものも歌ひたまへな
斎藤 史（１９０９～２００２）
This is the moment
when flowers and water start
trembling at once.
---- Come, start singing of those things
that cannot be seen with eyes.
16 件のコメント:
I was sorry to hear James Kirkup died, he was a good poet and suffered a lot in some ways. Why didn't you dare to take photographs of his grave?
Jenny
I hesitated and thought that taking photos of others' grave was not out of courtesy. I don't know if it was okay, though.
Thank you for your comment and question.
It's a nice trip to visit colored leaves and a grave of your favorite translator and
It's interesting that the grave of a British is there.
I have passed in front of the temple but I didn't know we can see the whole Kyoto city from there. Next time I want to try.
Hello,haricot.
花も水もいっせいに震えるのですね。素晴らしい歌で感動しました。写真を眺めながら、目に見えぬものを又心に浮かばせながらharicotさんの写真を見ています。James Kirkupのお墓の写真を見れないのは少し残念ですが、見事なもみじの紅葉と素晴らしい歌のtranslationで十分楽しませて頂きました。紅葉が終わると寒くなります。風邪ひかれませんように！お大事にね。
Tomoko
What wonderful colours on the maple trees. Very interesting post as always, Haricot.
「この度は・・・もみじの錦、神のまにまに」を思い起こしました。ひっそりとした佇まいの中の紅葉の燃えるような美しさは日本の誇りですね。
私もお墓の写真を撮ることにためらいを感じたと思います。
厳しい寒さがよく伝わる歌ですね。視界から色が消えていく季節がまもなく訪れますが
この鮮やかな色は目に残っていますね。
I also was very sorry to hear of the death of James Kirkup. Your post made me think of his poem on Arthur Rimbaud's tomb: At the Tomb of a Poet. Thank you for a beautiful post.
Salut,
vous nous montrez de magnifiques photos d'un endroit qui semble si paisible, en voyant ces belles couleurs de l'automne, il serait juste de dire que " L'automne est le printemps de l'hiver"
Amitiés.Celeste
The colors of the leaves on the trees are extraordinary--you always visit such beautiful places. I love the lines "This is the moment
when flower and water start
trembling at once."
How lovely that a piece of the poet is in Japan, a place he loved.
Thank you for such an interesting post. You always make me think.
Autumn in Sagano is fantastic, I love it. Due to peaked autumn foliage and sunny weather, Kyoto was bustling with people yesterday.
This post is such a heartfelt tribute to James Kirkup together with the colored leaves you offered for his soul. I’m touched with more intensity by the original tanka, while the meaning of his translation is clearer to me. His translation is not just translation but another poetry. What is essential is invisible to eyes. 魂が震える・・・、年をとるたびに増えてきていると思いません？
Come Start singing of those things which cannot be seen with the eyes This is one of those lines which needs to be committed to memory.
sarah
It was fine day and not weekend , so it was not so crowded there.
And happy to be able to find James' grave. Thank you.
Red Rose
ありがとうございます。紅葉の色はずっと暖かだったので少し鮮やかさに欠けていましたが。いつもじっくり短歌を鑑賞して下さって嬉しいです。
Ｚ
The sort of maple leaves looks different from those in your country? I guess the leaves are smaller a little.
Thank you for reading my posts.
cosmos
Thank you for your kind comment.
山の好きなcosmosさんは、早めに紅葉を目にしておられると思います。奈良にも沢山もみじを楽しめるところがあるのに京都まで行きました。cosmosさんが春のpostでコメント（馬酔木の歌で）して下さったように、昔の人なら紅葉狩りは枝を折ったんでしょうね。
Dave
Rimbaud's poems are so difficult.
But I'd like to find the poem "At the Tomb of a Poet".
Thank you for your comment.
Celeste
Merci beaucoup. Vous ajoutez les belles phrases des fois. C'est tres impressionant.
Jen
I'm glad to hear you love the line of the tanka poem. She challenged herself for inovating tanka.
Thank you for your encouraging comment as always.
stardust
It was on weekday and Sagano was less crowded than I expected.
I'm glad to know you enjoyed the tanka and the translation.
I also think that excellent translation is art.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
Macy
It is splendid line, isn't it?
Thank you very much.
As cores fantásticas do outono.A natureza em todo o seu colorido.Lindas fotos.
Abraço
Nélia
Beautiful, colourful photos! And as lovely piece of poetry!
A heart warming posting! Thank you!
Nelia
Thank you very much for visiting my blog. I wish I could write Spanish.
GABRIELA
Thank you very much.
I'm glad to hear that you like the poem.
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