古今和歌集

THE KOKIN WAKASHU

The poetry of Japan has its seed in the human heart and

flourishes in countless leaves of words. To every human

happen such a plethora of events that they are spoken of

in terms of what comes to the emotions,

in terms of what we see and what we hear.

The warbler singing in the blossoms, the frog dwelling

in the water-each has its particular voice and when

we hear them, what doubt can there be that

each living being indeed does not have the same?

Poetry, without exertion of energy, moves Heaven and Earth,

causes us to feel more kindly toward the spirits and gods

that remain hidden from us,

pacifies the relations between sexes,

and brings peace to the mind of

even the most violent of soldiers.

Translation by Kenneth L. Richard