Poem: Kenko

Kenko

Yoshida Kenko, 1283–1350,

Japanese poet and Buddhist monk

Whenever idleness appears

so does Kenko’s name –

master of idle ways

though he does say

many things must be done

like it or not

still poetry and music

should not be

neglected

the moon is never the same

and the autumn moon is lovely,

only the insensitive can’t tell

he praises the waka form

says it makes many humble

things, sound delightful

cherry blossoms scatter

the moon sinks in the sky;

it’s natural, he says, things pass.

Karen Blaylock lives and works in the Adelaide Hills. A writer of poetry and essays she has been published in literary journals, newspapers and anthologies in Australia, and with her haiku in New Zealand and America. Her collection of poems, The Saying of Names, was published in 2022.

Readers’ original and unpublished poems of up to 40 lines can be emailed, with postal address, to [email protected]. Submissions should be in the body of the email, not as attachments. A poetry book will be awarded to each accepted contributor.