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| View All Poems by Izumi Shikibu | Next Poem >>

Although the wind

by Izumi Shikibu
(974? - 1034?) Timeline

English version by
Jane Hirshfield

Original Language
Japanese

Buddhist : Zen / Chan
11th Century

Although the wind
blows terribly here,
the moonlight also leaks
between the roof planks
of this ruined house.

 

 

-- from Women in Praise of the Sacred: 43 Centuries of Spiritual Poetry by Women, Edited by Jane Hirshfield

Amazon.com

 


/ Photo by Fiona Ridger /

Themes

  Moon
 
 
 
 


Recommended Books


The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, by Stephen Mitchell
Women in Praise of the Sacred: 43 Centuries of Spiritual Poetry by Women, Edited by Jane Hirshfield

 

| More Poems by Izumi Shikibu | Next Poem >>

Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

We're coming up on the full moon... or perhaps I should say that the full moon is coming up on us. So I thought of this poem.

I love the layered ways our mind interprets the image of this poem.

And a good reminder to us to open enough space between our roof planks to let the moonlight in.

Have a magical and illuminating full moon!

 

 


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