Ballade Of A Toyokuni Colour-Print - To W. A.

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.