The Female of the Species (a ryūka)

By luigi_pagano

Fri, 10 Jan 2020
  • 3712 reads
17 comments
 

Japanese female samurai
were known as Onna-bugeisha.
They assisted male counterparts
when urgently needed.

 

© Luigi Pagano 2020

Ryūka is a genre of songs and poetry originating from the Okinawa Islands, Okinawa Prefecture of south-western Japan. Most ryūka are featured by the 8-8-8-6 syllable structure. 

Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Historical Fiction

Comments

Submitted by drew_gummerson on

Nice. A little bit of history both in form and content. 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Thanks for reading and commenting, Drew.

Best, Luigi.

 

Submitted by drew_gummerson on

Always a pleasure! I love your constant trying out of new things. 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

yes

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Compact communication can be very satisfying. Can take quite some work though! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Not so difficult once the technique has been mastered and a relevant text applied , Rhiannon.

Best wishes, Luigi x.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

 Just the sound of the words "onna bugeisha" is fierce! I will think of myself as On A Bug Geisha  next time there is a spider in the bath and hope it makes me braver

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

No need to get scared, Di. All you need is a glass and a postcard Once it is trapped I chuck it into the garden.

Best of luck, Luigi x

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

not a glass Luigi, yoghurt pots are much better as then can't see them. The problem is getting them under the yoghurt pot without actually looking....

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Like everything else, you have to learn the technique and there is no danger in looking at the spider through the glass; in fact by keeping it in your sight you will be sure that it hasn't escaped capture in the meantime. As an additional precaution, once it is within the confine of the tumbler, I turn the glass upside down holding the postcard on top: the arachnid will fall to the bottom of the glass and be unable to get a grip to climb up. Open the door and with a swish retract the postcard and fling the enemy away. Mission accomplished. (Mind you I am told that they remember the way back!)

Good hunting, Luigi x

 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Not a comforting thought!

Like onemorething, I am finding your explorations very interesting. Are you finding this sense of peace and strength in these Japanese poems comes because of their form, or are you writing them this way conciously? They make me think of large pebbles carefully balanced one on another on another

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I am just experimenting to be honest Di, to see what kind of messages can be conveyed within these restrictive forms. Your idea of large pebbles balanced upon one another may be more appropriate that you think: I have been told that Japanese haiku are “traditionally” written in single vertical lines.
Have a go at a ryūka: counting the syllables 8-8-8-6 is simple. The theme can vary: celebratory or seasonal or love but I suppose that generally what is used in western poetry will do.

Luigi x

 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

I am really enjoying these. They are so interesting and I feel that I have learnt something new each time you post one! :)

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

So am I, onemorething. I have been discovering all these different forms derived from Japanese poetry and am intrigued by how how much can be said in so few words. 

Kind regards, Luigi.

 

Submitted by Nolan on

Amazing. Were there really women Samurai warriors Liuigi? Where do you find all these facts?

&&

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Yes Nolan, there were. 
I read a lot and sometimes come across facts that have been overlooked.

Best wishes, Luigi

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on