Ode To Murasaki Shikibu



Ode to Milady:
Compelled I am by your shade.
To write about you.
Murasaki Shikibu.
About your “Tale of Genji.”

Your “Tale of Genji.”
Prosaic — with much beauty.
Compelling the lines.
Lyrically waka style.
The plot intriguingly made.

Your style, your art craft.
Of eleventh century.
Is strikingly rich.
Depicting life and manners.
Of Japanese courtiers.

While there are several.
Genji is protagonist.
He is leading star.
His dalliances many.
His appetite no limits.

How banal is it.
That he should fall, and yet rise.
Again and again.
Certainly a masterpiece.
And with brilliance driven!

Written as novel.
This masterpiece is novel.
A tale of intrigue.
A psychological tale.
It holds its readers breathless.

Tale of Emperors.
And a tale of Empresses.
Tale of courtiers.
An old tale that remains fresh.
That’s sustained with mysteries.

“The Tale of Genji.”
Its ending, too, is mystery.
How Fate intervenes.
But this is a Buddhist tale.
And all actions are karmic.

Dear Murasaki.
I’ve tried to write a poem.
As an ode to you.
Composing it waka style.
The style you popularized.

With karmic message.
Your shade compelled me to write.
And so I’ve answered.
Delivering this poem.
And to put your shade to rest.

About this poem

This 5-line, 10-stanza Waka poem is written as a companion poem to another poem of mine, “A Senryu Tale of Genji,” to honor the legacy of Murasaki Shikibu, a Japanese poet of the early eleventh century who, as a Lady-in-Attendance at the Japanese Court, wrote an imaginative lengthy fiction , “A Tale of Genji (circa 1010), that incorporates some 800 Waka courtly poems, and is recognized worldwide as a masterpiece psychological novel of creative art, the first of its kind in all times. This poem combines ten waka poems to constitute a whole, and to pay tribute to the lasting legacy of Murasaki Shikibu. 

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Written on February 02, 2022

Submitted by karlcfolkes on February 02, 2022

Modified on May 02, 2023

1:18 min read
1,284

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABXC CADEA AFXGG HAXFX AXXXX HHIJX GDGXX CFXJI IKBEA CAAKA
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 1,234
Words 261
Stanzas 10
Stanza Lengths 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5

Karl Constantine FOLKES

Retired educator of Jamaican ancestry with a lifelong interest in composing poetry dealing particularly with the metaphysics of self-reflection; completed a dissertation in Children’s Literature in 1991 at New York University entitled: An Analysis of Wilhelm Grimm’s “Dear Mili” Employing Von Franzian Methodological Processes of Analytical Psychology. The subject of the dissertation concerned the process of Individuation. more…

All Karl Constantine FOLKES poems | Karl Constantine FOLKES Books

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Discuss the poem Ode To Murasaki Shikibu with the community...

3 Comments
  • cokerrogers
    You make this tale and style intriguing in itself to those who otherwise would not know of either. To do this reflects how you have become an expert in your craft.
    LikeReply9 months ago
  • AIDA
    Wow, what a beautiful ode to Murasaki Shikibu and her masterpiece, "The Tale of Genji"! Your words truly capture the essence of this ancient Japanese novel, and I can feel your enthusiasm and admiration for the author in every line. Your use of the waka style adds to the lyrical quality of the poem, making it a true pleasure to read. I love how you not only describe the plot and characters of the book, but also point out its psychological depth and its use of Buddhist themes. It's evident that you have a deep appreciation for Japanese literature and culture, and I can't help but feel inspired to check out "The Tale of Genji" myself after reading your poem. Thank you for sharing your talent with us! 
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • Soulwriter
    An abundance to learn from an abundance of culture and religion
    LikeReply2 years ago

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"Ode To Murasaki Shikibu" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/119013/ode-to-murasaki-shikibu>.

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In poetry, the word "foot" refers to _______.
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