The Age of this Place Gives a Cloak of Tenderness
Interview by Jane Wieman
Kyoto Journal features poetry in every issue. The poet Edith Shiffert lived in Kyoto for over 50 years and wrote some of the most beautiful poetry about this city that exists in English. She published many books of poetry and also translated the haiku of Buson. She was interviewed in the very first issue of Kyoto Journal, and her long poem, “Land” was published in KJ 50, “Transience.” She passed away on September 1st, 2017, at the age of 101. This tender portrait of her was taken by Kyoto photographer Micah Gampel for our 70th issue.
The far temple bell
Rung on Yoshida mountain
Wakens me to spring,
Roaring in my ears,
the mountain temple’s silence.
Nobody else here!
Mount Hiei’s white heart
aeons after aeons
washing down as sand.
The cat watches
as light changes to morning.
The light comes slowly.
Steep slopes and great trees
in a soft rain: birds and a bell
There is nothing else.
With the entire earth
drenched in flowers and fragrance
why not peace and joy?
JA