Drawn from classical, medieval and modern sources - including the imperial collections of the Manyoshu and Kokinshu - the poems in this collection are some of the greatest love poems from the Japanese tradition. The poems range in tone from the spiritual longing of an isolated monk to the erotic ecstasy of a court princess - but all share the simplicity and luminosity of language that marks Kenneth Rexroth's verse style.

Reviews

"Kenneth Rexroth's readings from the Japanese master poets are breathtaking in their simplicity and clarity."-- "New York Times Book Review "



"Rexroth's subtle translations influenced a generation of American writers. As the examples in this miniature anthology demonstrate, he refused to flatten the text by spelling out every reference and allusion, preserving the Japanese ideal of offering a spring board for the reader's imagination."-- "L.A. Times Book Review "