"'Do not say anything unkind, but compose a poem. Is your best-beloved dead? Do not yield to useless grief, but try to calm your mind by making a poem. Are you troubled because you are about to die, leaving so many things unfinished? Be brave, and write a poem to death. Whatever misfortune or injustice disturbs you, put aside your resentment or your sorrow as soon as possible, and write a few lines of sober and elegant verse for a moral exercise.'" Thus Hearn translates from an ancient writer, and then goes on to say:
"In the olden days every form of trouble was encountered with a poem. Bereavement, separation, disaster, called forth verses in lieu of plaints. The lady who preferred death to loss of honour composed a poem before piercing her throat. The _samurai_ sentenced to die by his own hand wrote a poem before performing _hara-kiri_. Even in this less romantic era of Meiji young people resolved upon suicide are wont to compose some verses before quitting the world."
These three little love-poems, which have been translated into English by William Porter, were written during the tenth century--the first one in 961 A. D. by the Imperial Adviser, Asa-Tada.
"To fall in love with womankind Is my unlucky fate: If only it were otherwise, I might appreciate Some men, whom now I hate."
The second, by Kanemori Taira, was composed in 949 A. D.:
"Alas! the blush upon my cheek, Conceal it as I may, Proclaims to all that I'm in love, Till people smile and say-- Where are thy thoughts to-day?"
The last one was written in the same year by the minister of the Kawara district of Kyoto:
"Ah, why does love distract my thoughts, Disordering my will! I'm like the pattern on the cloth Of Michinoku hill, All in confusion still."
Japan has not been without her women poets. Lady Horikawa, who wrote this bit of verse, lived in the twelfth century and was in attendance on the Dowager Empress Taiken. The poem is dated 1142, and, like the others, was translated by Mr. Porter.
"My doubt about his constancy Is difficult to bear; Tangled this morning are my thoughts As is my long black hair. I wonder--does he care?"
The Empress Jito lived in the seventh century. She was the daughter of an Emperor and became Empress on the death of her husband, the Emperor Tennu. During her reign _saké_ was first made. She wrote: