pine winds, autumn rain: tanka strings

By Matsukaze and Murasame

Tanka strings in the tradition of Heian Court poetry (waka) authored by Matsukaze, USA and Murasame (Joy McCall), UK.The pen names, Matsukaze and Murasame, pay homage to the ghost-sisters who were loved by the poet Yukihira in the traditional Noh play, 'Shiokumi' (Sea Salt Laving). A play for autumn, in more recent times it has become known, simply, as 'Matsukaze', and along with 'Yuya' (a play for spring) has been one of the most popular dramas since ancient times- hence the expression: "Yuya, Matsukaze and a bowl of rice"- an allusion to the things in life of which we never tire. Soul food.Within these pages, pressed between images of hearth and heath, of stained glass and church door and gate, tanka treads a path that borders on high poetry and passes through holy ground. In 'sakura' we are told these are "blood-hymns." Murasame's blood is a rich brown like the earth from whence it came and to which, drop by drop, word by word, it is bound to return. She praises the "dark breath" whose voice is none other than Matsukaze's; he who might have been written into the Song of Solomon. Much as in the 'real' 21st century world the poets' relationship is purely platonic, when they don the masks of their pen names their love is, by turns, courtly, passionate, reverent, unconditional . . . and it knows no bounds. Just as their words blend seamlessly on the page, it seems they are so attuned to each other they might be of one age, one colour, one heart. ~Claire Everett, Founder & Editor of SKYLARK

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1514146800
• ISBN13: 9781514146804
• Release Date: July 2015
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Weight: 0.37 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.2" x 6.0"