And fluttering with ten thousand flags)—
Proud Fuji to her topmost crags
Steel-blue against a saffron sky—
A Queen! A World! A Mystery!
At daybreak, from Subashiri
We started forth, with horses three,
To thread the woodland path, which leads
By groves and streams and shrines and meads,
Nigher and higher, 'till we find
Umagaeshi, and leave behind
Our steeds. Henceforward every ri
With sturdy foot must traversed be:
And Fuji, lifting rosy red
Beyond the pines her peerless head,
Seems still as far, as when, last night,
We watched her in the sunset's light.
While yet we paced the forest road
Where green woods made a garment broad
For Fuji's knees, and dappled shade
Upon the speckled pumice played,
