A Shawl of Mist

Tanka: Expressing the Modern Soul in an Ancient Poetic Style

Yukiko Inoue-Smith

The concept of a universal human nature suggests that American scholars and American readers of Japanese literature may interpret the elements in Japanese tanka based on emotions — and on meanings attached to natural images — that are common to all of humanity. It is hoped that readers will experience this ancient style of Japanese poetry in such a way that they are inspired to write their own tanka poems. Such is one of the purposes of A Shawl of Mist. Another purpose of this book is to share essays written to accompany and complement the tanka poems. The short essays included here provide practical thoughts based on the author’s long years of personal and professional experiences — studying, reading, teaching, thinking, and especially, cherishing each day of living — in Japan, the United States, and Guam.

University Press of America

Pages: 158 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-0-7618-5905-5 • Paperback • June 2012 • $44.99 • (£35.00)

978-0-7618-5906-2 • eBook • June 2012 • $42.50 • (£35.00)

Subjects: Poetry / Asian / Japanese, Literary Criticism / Asian / Japanese, Poetry / Ancient, Classical

A Shawl of Mist

Tanka: Expressing the Modern Soul in an Ancient Poetic Style

Paperback

eBook

Summary

The concept of a universal human nature suggests that American scholars and American readers of Japanese literature may interpret the elements in Japanese tanka based on emotions — and on meanings attached to natural images — that are common to all of humanity. It is hoped that readers will experience this ancient style of Japanese poetry in such a way that they are inspired to write their own tanka poems. Such is one of the purposes of A Shawl of Mist. Another purpose of this book is to share essays written to accompany and complement the tanka poems. The short essays included here provide practical thoughts based on the author’s long years of personal and professional experiences — studying, reading, teaching, thinking, and especially, cherishing each day of living — in Japan, the United States, and Guam.

Details

University Press of America

Pages: 158 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-0-7618-5905-5 • Paperback • June 2012 • $44.99 • (£35.00)

978-0-7618-5906-2 • eBook • June 2012 • $42.50 • (£35.00)

Subjects: Poetry / Asian / Japanese, Literary Criticism / Asian / Japanese, Poetry / Ancient, Classical

Author

Yukiko Inoue-Smith, Ph.D., has been a member of the faculty of the School of Education at the University of Guam since 1997. Inoue has been extensively involved in work with tanka, which is Japan’s oldest and most esteemed poetry genre. Inoue is a professor of educational psychology and research, and considers poetry an equally important element of her life’s work.

Table of Contents

Preface
Foreword
A Historical Overview of Japanese Language, Literature, and Poetry
Haiku: Interpretation and Appreciation
Tanka: Expressing the Modern Soul in an Ancient Style
My future is here and now
Yellow roses, you must be
A treasure box in heart
Where you are planted
The power of happiness
The Cinderella complex
A linked verse: the winds of America
Space clearing and clutter clearing
To throw it away or not
Philosophy of life
Flame trees
Practical applications
Every day we are alive
Reflections on one life
If Edison’s analysis were applied
Self-directed e-learning
Things I cannot live without
Start on your journey
Life is a personal mission
Thoughts on aging
Photographs of ourselves
Rules recommended for Life
Changing problems into challenges
Silence is golden or not
Leadership
Not given but earned
Takuboku’s tanka
Self-improvement
Colors of might and sadness
The pride of roses in shadow
Conquering stress
The origin of my journey as a scholar
Confucian norm
Quality, education, and sustainability
Collegiality and the realities of behavior
The power of writing
Wider availability vs. better preparation
The fascination of Japanese poetry
A linked verse: the broken conversation
A letter to my daughter
How poetry emerges from difficulty
A marriage of east and west
Re-examining the Japanese mind
Attention is a basic to any human activity
A linked verse: the sudden death
Someone is watching you
Poetry as qualitative research
The professor’s reminiscence
A linked verse: winter’s woods
A linked verse: the wail of Gaea
A shawl of mist
A linked verse: winter butterfly

About the Author

A Shawl of Mist

Tanka: Expressing the Modern Soul in an Ancient Poetic Style

Yukiko Inoue-Smith

A Shawl of Mist

Tanka: Expressing the Modern Soul in an Ancient Poetic Style

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