Michael Coy Poet Couplet

The Wind In the Pines 4

4.   Murasame Starts to Relate the Story

("Noh" is an ancient Japanese style of 
drama, broadly similar to Elizabethan
tragedy.  "The Wind in the Pines" is
my version of a well-known Noh play.)


MATSUKAZE & MURASAME 
(chanting in harmony) 
When fruit is ripe, touching it will burst it. 
You quoted his poem, and the stab of pain 
was like when the news of his death first hit. 
We had hoped never to think of it again. 
You did not know. It is not your fault 
that our sleeves are wet once more, with salt. 

BUDDHIST PRIEST 
But why keep on, with attachment to this man, 
when you are no longer part of this world of things? 
Meditate on the Great Plan, 
enjoy the benefits that progress brings! 

MATSUKAZE & MURASAME 
(chanting in harmony) 
We can learn nothing, and nothing forget. 
Love is strong, and our sleeves are wet. 

Pine wind, autumn rain, 
nothing wounds like loving in vain. 

MURASAME 
We were brine girls, nothing more, 
toiling on the Suma shore. 
Yukihira came alone, 
exiled from the Kyoto throne. 
His arms were strong, his skin was fair, 
the scent of resin in his long, black hair. 

MATSUKAZE & MURASAME 
(chanting in harmony) 
Pine wind, and autumn rain, 
man is bear, and woman, crane. 

MURASAME 
Man's love is aloof, a thing apart. 
A woman is nothing, if not heart. 
He loved us, yes - but after his fashion. 
Love, for men, is physical passion. 
When the time comes, men can sever 
the cord - but women love for ever.

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Darren White March 10, 2017 at 6:18 AM Sleeves wet with salt, from crying.... This just makes me sigh, because I can see it on stage, and the translation is so very natural and beautiful. The Dutch have a word for Pine too, with it's double meaning, it's less obvious, but still there: pijn. Pijn as in pain, hurt. Pijn as in the tree as well (pijnboom), so yeah it wasn't unfamiliar. Michael Coy March 10, 2017 at 6:52 AM You always add to the thing you've read. You make a contribution. That's so cool!