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In Japan, like in many other places, itās common to write a will when preparing for death. But what makes Japanese culture unique is the tradition of also leaving behind a āfarewell poem to lifeā (jisei). A practice that became deeply rooted and widely embraced.
Reading the last thoughts/last observations of those who lived long ago, right before they passed, is surreal. It really makes you wonder what your own last thoughts would be. What smells will be around you in your final hour? What sounds?
Such beautiful, yet simple poems immortalising their lives as their physical ones move on only moments after the poem was written.
Here are a few that have stuck with me so far:
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I aspire to have this amount of love and gratitude for the little slice of I've life that I've been given
S/O jilly for putting me onto Japanese Death Poems by Yoel Hoffmann
Feb 16, 2025
The first thing I think of with Sara Teasdale's poetry is their steady beat. You really feel your heart with them.
Some stand out lines of hers:
ā "My thoughts like steady incense rise;"
ā "āBut oh her hair the sun sifts thro'ā"
ā "And all his words I keep
As rose-leaves hold the dew"
ā All of her shorter poem 'LESS THAN THE CLOUD TO THE WIND'
ā All of her shorter poem 'Rain at Night'
ā 'When I am dead and over me bright April
Shakes out her rain-drenched hair,'
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As for extra ideas!
1. Get an Everyman's Pocket Poetry book. Choose a theme you enjoy, like say rivers! Get that collection, read through it and discover a load of new poems and potentially new favorite poets. Ofc you may know them already, but it fits nicely in a large coat pocket or small purse and is very cute so it's no loss if you've already familiarized yourself with everything they offer.
2. Read translated poetry! ESPECIALLY if it has the original text!! This will be incredibly rewarding: It'll introduce you to imagery that might appear as often in English, it'll open up for you whole new world of poetry AND it might ever make you new/deeper friendships! (It did for me!)
The book 'Chinese Poetic Writing' by FranƧois Cheng was one I found and enjoyed a lot! (With original text included! Unfortunately a rarity!)
Jan 27, 2025
A close friend put together this collection of poems for me for a birthday, gorgeously typed out and organised.
Almost two years later, through a changing friendship and moving states, it is still one of my most prized possessions. every time I return to it and read parts I wonder what she was thinking about when she chose a particular poem, if she saw parts of me in it or herself. all of this makes me feel wonderfully connected to her and our shared love for poetry, and known and loved.
Feb 6, 2024
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Feb 19, 2025
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tried reading dante alighieriās inferno. key emphasis on tried. i got bored and realised a story written in poem form is not my typa beat.
i tried because it seemed like what all the indie hipsters who are well versed would read, and that i would look cool and nicheābut it just cost me $25.
i prefer crazy detailed paragraphs rather than a line by line story.
anyways
Feb 17, 2025
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saying āiām sickā when youāre sick is boring.
instead, here are some more funky fresh and cool ways to disclose that your immune system has been highjacked (itās time to revive these sayings from the dead!):
āi am indisposedā
āi am taken illā
āi am feeling out of sortsā
āi am suffering from a bilious attackā
āi have been seized by an agueā
āi am afflicted with a malaiseā
āi have taken to my bedā
āthe vapours have overcome meā
āi have a touch of the influenzaā
āthe rheumatism plagues meā
āi am laid low with a feverā
āi am afflicted with a troublesome ailmentā
youāre welcome
Feb 18, 2025