Izumi Shikibu quotes
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“Even when a river of tears courses through this body, the flame of love cannot be quenched.”
-- Izumi ShikibuSource : no Komachi Ono, Izumi Shikibu (2015). “The Ink Dark Moon: Love Poems by Ono no Komachi anmd Izumi Shikibu, Women of teh Ancient Court of Japan”, p.128, Vintage
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“In this world love has no color yet how deeply my body is stained by yours.”
-- Izumi Shikibu -
“Rather than recallin these flowersthe fragrance of the past,I would like to hear this nightingale's voice,to know if his song is as sweet.”
-- Izumi Shikibu -
“Although I try / to hold the single thought / of Buddha's teaching in my heart, / I cannot help but hear / the many crickets' voices calling as well.”
-- Izumi ShikibuSource : Izumi Shikibu, “Although I Try”
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“The one close to me now; even my own body--these too will soon become clouds, floating in different directions.”
-- Izumi ShikibuSource : no Komachi Ono, Izumi Shikibu (2015). “The Ink Dark Moon: Love Poems by Ono no Komachi anmd Izumi Shikibu, Women of teh Ancient Court of Japan”, p.147, Vintage
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“Watching the moon at midnight, solitary, mid-sky, I knew myself completely, no part left out.”
-- Izumi Shikibu -
“Come quickly -- as soon as these blossoms open, they fall. This world exists as a sheen of dew on flowers.”
-- Izumi ShikibuSource : Liza Lim, Izumi Shikibu (2000). “Burning house: for koto and voice (1 performer) (1995)”
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“In love longing I listen to the monk's bell. I will never forget you even for an interval short as those between the bell notes.”
-- Izumi Shikibu -
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“Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.”
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“It is sad but unfortunately true that man learns nothing from history.”
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“They say time heals all wounds, but that presumes the source of the grief is finite”
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“It is a war built on lies that has fanned the flames of international terrorism”
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