This is the final part (Part IV) in the Four Pillars series written and narrated by poet Anita Virgil. In “A Cool Assessment” Anita offers new insights to the underlying role Shiki’s tuberculosis plays in many of his poems.

• Read the complete essay of, A Cool Assessment (PDF) by Anita Virgil. Reprinted from the Frogpond, Vol XIV:2 Summer 1991; Published here by the author’s permission, copyright (c) 1991 by Anita Virgil

The coolness;
Through the window of the stone lantern
The sea.

~Shiki

Play Podcast:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Masaoka Shiki