Tanka

By Tawara Machi (1987):

"Kono aji ga
iine" to kimi ga
ittakara
shichigatsu muika wa
sarada kinenbi


("This tastes
great" you
said, and so
the sixth of july,
our salad anniversary.)

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By Yosano Akiko (1901):

Kurokami no
chisuji no kami no
midaregami
katsu omoimidare
Omoimidaruru


(Of black hair
a thousand strands
all tangled, tangled,
and tangled too
my memories of us.)