Yoichi Tenko, the painter Plucked from his willow-tree Two big paper lanterns And ran to the brink of the sea; Over his head he held them, Crying, and only heard Somewhere out in the darkness, The cry of a wandering bird.
VI
Peonies, peonies thronged the May When in royal-rich array Came Sawara to the school Under the silvery willow-tree-- To the school of Tenko! Silver bells on a milk-white mule, Rose-red sails on an emerald sea! Over the bloom of the cherry spray, Peonies, peonies dimmed the day; And he rode the royal way Back to Yoichi Tenko.
Yoichi Tenko, half afraid Whispered, Wed some other maid; Kimi left me all alone Under the silvery willow-tree, Left me, whispered Tenko, Kimi had a heart of stone! -- Kimi, Kimi? Who is she? Kimi? Ah, the child that played Round the willow-tree. She prayed Often; and, whate'er I said, She believed it, Tenko.
He had come to paint anew Those dim isles of rose and blue, For a palace far away, Under the silvery willow-tree-- So he said to Tenko; And he painted, day by day, Golden visions of the sea. No, he had not come to woo; Yet, had Kimi proven true, Doubtless he had loved her too, Hardly less than Tenko.
Since the thought was in his head, He would make his choice and wed; And a lovely maid he chose Under the silvery willow-tree. Fairer far, said Tenko. Kimi had a twisted nose, And a foot too small, for me, And her face was dull as lead! Nay, a flower, be it white or red, Is a flower, Sawara said! So it is, said Tenko.
VII
Great Sawara, the painter, Sought, on a day of days, One of the peacock islands Out in the sunset haze: Rose-red sails on the water Carried him quickly nigh: There would he paint him a wonder, Worthy of Hokusai.
Lo, as he leapt o'er the creaming Roses of faery foam, Out of the green-lipped caverns Under the isles blue dome, White as a drifting snow-flake, White as the moons white flame, White as a ghost from the darkness, Little O Kimi came.
Long I have waited, Sawara, Here in our sunset isle, Sawara, Sawara, Sawara, Look at me once, and smile: