Page:Anthology of Japanese Literature.pdf/322

318 Muromachi Period

Years of old age before me, What is there on which to lean? Sōgi	Old age—friends are gone.
Faded though they are, At least I still have my songs— Take pity on them! Shōhaku	The poems of an old man.
They too make good companions When the sky is at twilight. Sōgi	Loneliness relieved by poetry.
Today in clouds I crossed the peak and found The blossoms scattered. Sōchō	Spring (blossoms). What he thought were “clouds of cherry blossoms” were only clouds. Link: sky-clouds. Clouds may be companions.
Listen! did you hear the cries Of the wild geese of spring? Shōhaku	Spring. Link: geese flying over peak.
How bright the moon is Without the haze—drowsy one, Wait, just a little. Sōgi	Spring (hazy moon). Link: Geese flying under moon, familiar subject of painting. Enjoins him not to fall asleep when the moon is so lovely (not the usual hazy spring moon).
Lying in dew, on my way, I see an autumn daybreak. Sōchō	Autumn (moon of previous verse taken in different sense). Link: moon-daybreak.
Over the villages, Far off, beyond the last field, The fog is settling. Shōhaku	Autumn (fog). Description continued.