Word and image: when gifts become enemies

[wongkk.livejournal.com]

 

I found a translation of this Ono no Komachi poem in a book called, “The ink dark moon” which has translations by Jane Hirshfield and Mariko Aratani.   I've paraphrased the original content into an English syllabic haiku for karadin who kindly recommended the book to me.  I don't have any information for the picture which was adrift on the internet somewhere without any credit as to its source. 
 

Comments

[ntkufreak.livejournal.com]

Do you have the original image at least? It's so gorgeous! The text suits very well too. :)

[wongkk.livejournal.com]

Hi - I've sent you an LJ message cos I can email you the jpg I used. There's some Japanese writing on it so perhaps that will give more info? Sorry - I don't know any Japanese, otherwise I might be able to tell you more.

This picture is quite special for me, partly because I do play the violin and partly because it is a very beautiful photo of Gackt's face: he looks (er - to my strange imagination!) like a humourless angel making judgement on some poor soul and about to unleash justice, rather than mercy, on them! Um - I'm not sure where the violin fits into that scenario though. I expect you can find your own use for the pic!

[ishitaru.livejournal.com]

that is so very emotional
I would like to have original to know it in Japanese too

[wongkk.livejournal.com]

Sorry - do you mean the poem or the photo?

The poem is written (I only have it in romanji, I'm afraid):
katami koso
ima wa ada nare
kore naku ba
wasururu toki mo
ara mashi mono o

Is that enough for you to understand/find the Japanese?

If you meant the photo, please send me your email address, via LJ message, and I'll give you the jpg for the image as I found it (with the Japanese writing on the bottom). Sadly, I am not clever enough to read any of the Japanese text beyond a few kanji characters. I'd be very interested to know more about the origin of this beautiful picture though.