One Thousand Summers

In the  quiet  spring sunlight cherry’s new blossoms in a whirlwind of petals descend. *  

Although I never knew the ways of letters, Buddhist Novice (Renshō) has carefully insisted that I write the poem cartouches  for sliding doors of Saga Chūin. Even though they are awfully unsightly, written half-heartedly, I am sending them away. From the ancient times, a poem from every poet, from Emperor Tenji ( 1 )  to Ietaka ( 2 )  and Masatsune ( 3 ) .

After many, many years, eight-fold cherries of the capital in Nara, now bloom inside the nine-fold palace.*