Illustration: Michael Zittel   
Iroha Uta    
Ancient Japanese poem

Iro wa nioedo, chirinuru wo

Waga-yo tare-zo tsune-naran?

Ui no okuyama kyookoete

Asaki yume miji, ei mo sezu
 

 
The Flower Song
Translated by Shinzen Young

Bright indeed the flowers may be,
but surely not for long

In this life, who indeed, will not
someday be gone?

Passing beyond the furthest peak in
the Province of Shifting Streams

No longer will I drunken speak;
nor gaze at shallow dreams