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A while ago, Noh Anothai taught us how to write Thai Nirat Poems at the RHINO Poetry Forum. In his description of Thai Nirat Poems, the nirat is a sort of traditional Thai verse travel memoir (with origins as a courtly love poem): an account of journeys taken away from, and addressed to, absent lovers, that employs several conventions. One of his translation examples:  “Cross & Part” reminded me of Semimaru’s waka. #10 Waka of Ogura Hyakunin Isshu (Anthology of 100 poems by 100 poets). Semimaru also known as Semimaro was a Japanese poet and musician of the early Heian period (around the 8th century). #10. (Translated by Naoko Fujimoto) Here, we meet we sprawl East to Kyoto to home once we pass this gate. Here. これやこの 行も帰るも 別れては 知るも知らぬも 逢坂の関 This waka is also playing with the name of the place. 逢坂の関 (Osaka no Seki) is a checkpoint for travelers to go down to Osaka or go up to Kyoto. Travelers must cross this gate. 逢坂の関 also phonetically means Au-saka no Seki, which is a meeting spot. Here is my Thai Nirat poem. Noh told us that Nirat poems can be gracefully corny.  Comments are closed.
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