About this work

A tanka and its introduction imagine speaking with Kitahara Hakushu’s spirit during a visit to Jogashima, as falling raindrops mark the passing years. A separately published tanka source from the former website. Its original introduction, poem, readings and signature are preserved. This English version is an editorial translation for access; the Japanese text remains available alongside it for comparison.

Parallel reading

日本語と英語で読む

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日本語原文 Japanese original

きのふ城ケ島に遊びて白秋の魂に遭ふて語れり
君問ふな幾年虚いくとせむなし城ケ島数へる指に雨粒の舞ふ
　　葉山　成秋

English translation 英訳

AI-assisted English translation. The Japanese original remains authoritative.

Yesterday on Jogashima, I encountered the spirit of Hakushu and spoke with him:
Ask me not how many empty years have passed—
raindrops dance on the fingers with which I count Jogashima.
Seishu Hamano, Hayama

Open the Japanese-only page

Original wording, author credits, notes and source materials are preserved there.