---

William Ernest Henley - Ballade Of A Toyokuni Colour-Print
Work rating: Low

Was I a Samurai renowned,
Two-sworded, fierce, immense of bow?
A histrion angular and profound?
A priest? a porter?--Child, although
I have forgotten clean, I know
That in the shade of Fujisan,
What time the cherry-orchards blow,
I loved you once in old Japan.

As here you loiter, flowing-gowned
And hugely sashed, with pins a-row
Your quaint head as with flamelets crowned,
Demure, inviting--even so,
When merry maids in Miyako
To feel the sweet o` the year began,
And green gardens to overflow,
I loved you once in old Japan.

Clear shine the hills; the rice-fields round
Two cranes are circling; sleepy and slow,
A blue canal the lake`s blue bound
Breaks at the bamboo bridge; and lo!
Touched with the sundown`s spirit and glow,
I see you turn, with flirted fan,
Against the plum-tree`s bloomy snow . . .
I loved you once in old Japan!

Envoy

Dear, `twas a dozen lives ago;
But that I was a lucky man
The Toyokuni here will show:
I loved you--once--in old Japan.
Source
The script ran 0.001 seconds.