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Songs from a Bamboo Village

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Shiki Masaoka was one of those stars that burned brightly, and burned out fast. Sick for most of his life, Masaoka became one of Japan's most prominent poets at the turn of the century, and his influence on tanka and haiku remains to this day. "Songs From a Bamboo Village" not only displays some of his poetry, but offers insights into his life and work.

Translators Sanford Goldstein and Seishi Shinoda (both professors) open the book with a detailed biography of Shiki -- a passionate poet, whose strong artistic mother encouraged his education. He wasn't just a poet, but also a columnist who used his "A Drop of Chinese Ink" to let his thoughts be known, whether they were thoughts on late 19th-century Japanese poetry, or a comic letter from guardian deity Jizu.

But his ill health both destroyed him and became one source of his inspiration; but it couldn't hold back his determination to revitalize Japanese poetry until his death. Even when he was dying, his sister helped him write. At the end of the book, the translators also offer several pages of translation notes, which offer insights into Masaoka's poetry, the times in which his lived, and the reflections of his life in his work.

Then we are shown some of Masaoka's beautiful tanka poetry -- some is focused on nature, some on emotion, and some are just reflections on little bits of life, such as the tanka that comments on which persimmons are the sweetest. Some even have a humorous bent, such as "Vowing not to return/without performing my duty/I head for the front/my portable brush and ink case/stashed swordlike in my belt!"

Masaoka's writing is minimalistic at times, though often he reflected on the color of a flower or the contents of a bag. However, his poetry serves as an excellent window into his thoughts, whether they were happy, sad, or merely reflections of his own failing body. "This iris flowers/have come out/and before my eyes/is passing/the last spring I will see," he wrote at one point.

More than a mere collection of poetry, "Songs From A Bamboo Village" displays the talents and life of a rare man, whose passion for his art and life were sadly cut short. Beautiful and sad.