Katsushika Hokusai
In January 2016 I visited the excellent Dunedin Public Art Gallery to find that one of the exhibits was Hokusai's "Thirty six views of Mount Fuji" - a collection of ukiyo-e woodblock coloured prints. I had seen only a few of the images before. In appreciation, this is my take on that work.
from Ryōgoku bridge
noble Fuji at sunset
the colour of ink
at Onden
eyes only for the turning
water wheel
Nihon bridge
boats cram the canal
Fuji floats by
Nihon bridge
boats cram the canal
Fuji passes by v
in Sagami
opening their mouths to Fuji
storks
in Sagami
storks open their mouths
to Fuji v
fishing huts
on Tsukuda island
dawn peaks
Inume Pass
grass bows to travelers
to Fuji
the shouts of traders
floating under Mannen bridge
spring in Fukagawa
Lake Misaka
mountain reflection
oh! it is Fuji
In Ōno
paddies float up to
the mountain
In Ōno
the mountain floats
on paddies v1
In Ōno
mountains float
on paddies v2
In Ōno
paddies float
to the mountain v3
at Katakura
huts buried in tea
but Fuji...
fishing Lake Suwa
the line from hut to shrine
catching the mountain
fishing Lake Suwa
line from hut to shrine
catches the mountain v
fishing Lake Suwa
the line from hut to shrine
catches a mountain v
for a fee
Tokaidō men carry Edo
across the river
snow from Mt Fuji
today at Koishikawa
all is dulled
snow from Mt Fuji
a dull day
at Koishikawa v
the summit
Mt Fuji above
rain storms
a fine sight
Mt Fuji
in the wind
in Lake Misaka
spring makes all bigger
Fuji
three centuries gone
thirty six views of Fuji
in one turn
January 2016
All poetry © Steven Clarkson 2016 (no reproduction or other use of any work in whole or in part without prior written permission from the author)
In January 2016 I visited the excellent Dunedin Public Art Gallery to find that one of the exhibits was Hokusai's "Thirty six views of Mount Fuji" - a collection of ukiyo-e woodblock coloured prints. I had seen only a few of the images before. In appreciation, this is my take on that work.
from Ryōgoku bridge
noble Fuji at sunset
the colour of ink
at Onden
eyes only for the turning
water wheel
Nihon bridge
boats cram the canal
Fuji floats by
Nihon bridge
boats cram the canal
Fuji passes by v
in Sagami
opening their mouths to Fuji
storks
in Sagami
storks open their mouths
to Fuji v
fishing huts
on Tsukuda island
dawn peaks
Inume Pass
grass bows to travelers
to Fuji
the shouts of traders
floating under Mannen bridge
spring in Fukagawa
Lake Misaka
mountain reflection
oh! it is Fuji
In Ōno
paddies float up to
the mountain
In Ōno
the mountain floats
on paddies v1
In Ōno
mountains float
on paddies v2
In Ōno
paddies float
to the mountain v3
at Katakura
huts buried in tea
but Fuji...
fishing Lake Suwa
the line from hut to shrine
catching the mountain
fishing Lake Suwa
line from hut to shrine
catches the mountain v
fishing Lake Suwa
the line from hut to shrine
catches a mountain v
for a fee
Tokaidō men carry Edo
across the river
snow from Mt Fuji
today at Koishikawa
all is dulled
snow from Mt Fuji
a dull day
at Koishikawa v
the summit
Mt Fuji above
rain storms
a fine sight
Mt Fuji
in the wind
in Lake Misaka
spring makes all bigger
Fuji
three centuries gone
thirty six views of Fuji
in one turn
January 2016
All poetry © Steven Clarkson 2016 (no reproduction or other use of any work in whole or in part without prior written permission from the author)