Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Asia: Vols. XXI–XXIII. 1876–79.

Japan: Fujiyama, the Mountain

Fujiyama

By From the Japanese

Anonymous translation

HEAVEN above from earth below

Long ago the gods have parted,

Henceforth hiding far from men.

Round the hoary peak sublimely

Towering o’er Surúga’s land,

Fuji’s venerated mountain,

All the wide-arched azure sky

Though thou search with wistful gaze

Of the hastening sun’s bright track,

Not a glimpse shalt thou enjoy;

Nor of gentlier beaming moon

Hail the shadow-fringing shimmer;

Fleecy clouds are hovering,

Hovering round the high bare summit,

Veiling it from mortal ken.

Hath thereon the white snow fallen?

Wouldst thou of the lofty gods

Know the annals, only Fuji

Can the secret story tell thee.