Iroha

色は匂へど 散りぬるを
我が世誰ぞ 常ならむ
有為の奥山 今日越えて
浅き夢見じ 酔ひもせず

As flowers are brilliant but [inevitably] fall,
who could remain constant in our world? [No one could]
Today let us transcend the high mountain of transience,
and there will be no more shallow dreaming, no more drunkenness.
— Kūkai

A beautiful poem.

I thought of posting this and then writing something in addition, but haven’t managed to think of anything useful to supplement this. I am sure it does quite well on its own as well.

[Note: Source for this specific version.]

23-01-2011: Added the Hiragana version:

 

いろはにほへと
ちりぬるを
わかよたれそ
つねならむ
うゐのおくやま
けふこえて
あさきゆめみし
ゑひもせす

 

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Comments

    1. Hehe. Kukai based this off Buddhist principles, but I generally agree. At least, “shallow dreams”. Give me deeper ones. 🙂

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