Was I a Samurai renowned, <br />Two-sworded, fierce, immense of bow? <br />A histrion angular and profound? <br />A priest? a porter?--Child, although <br />I have forgotten clean, I know <br />That in the shade of Fujisan, <br />What time the cherry-orchards blow, <br />I loved you once in old Japan. <br /> <br />As here you loiter, flowing-gowned <br />And hugely sashed, with pins a-row <br />Your quaint head as with flamelets crowned, <br />Demure, inviting--even so, <br />When merry maids in Miyako <br />To feel the sweet o' the year began, <br />And green gardens to overflow, <br />I loved you once in old Japan. <br /> <br />Clear shine the hills; the rice-fields round <br />Two cranes are circling; sleepy and slow, <br />A blue canal the lake's blue bound <br />Breaks at the bamboo bridge; and lo! <br />Touched with the sundown's spirit and glow, <br />I see you turn, with flirted fan, <br />Against the plum-tree's bloomy snow . . . <br />I loved you once in old Japan! <br /> <br />Envoy <br /> <br />Dear, 'twas a dozen lives ago; <br />But that I was a lucky man <br />The Toyokuni here will show: <br />I loved you--once--in old Japan.<br /><br />William Ernest Henley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ballade-of-a-toyokuni-colour-print/
