#Shui Wakashu

[gleaningsinbuddhafields]

From Darkness Into Darkness: Lady Izumi’s Final Poem

In a lesser-known Imperial poetry anthology called the Shui Wakashu (拾遺和歌集), poem 1342, is recorded what is believed to be Lady Izumi’s1 final poem: JapaneseRomanizationTranslation暗きよりKuraki yoriThe way I must enter暗き道にぞKuraki michi ni zoleads through darkness to darkness —入りぬべきIrinu bekiO moon above the mountains’ rimはるかに照らせHaruka ni teraseplease shine a little further山の端の月Yama no wa no tsukion…