Our Lady of the Chronicles
Murasaki Shikibu (978-c.1014)
*
An offering of
white chrysanthemums for you,
translucent sister
My brother’s lessons
taught me Chinese. Father sighed,
Pity you’re a girl
*
*
Lake Biwa, widowed—
the full moon whispered to me
The Tale of Genji
Lord Michinaga,
my patron, brought me to court
to teach his daughter
Though he pursues me,
he has neither read my book
nor captured my love
*
*
One courtesan’s sleeves
layered orange, green and mauve
presage her swift fall
Clamorous cracked bell—
I wince, smile and nod at some
inelegant verse
A drunken courtier
mauls his concubine, roaring
at her frail protests
*
*
Red amaryllis,
wilting in the heat of court,
longing for winter
Secluded, writing,
dawn’s first light taunts me. I rise
to tend my Empress
*
