Pillow Thoughts

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The Heian period was essential to the aristocratic people. Poetry and vibrant art were a big part in the imperial court, of which Shōnagon was a part. The people in the imperial court were expected to be well educated in writing. Literature was seen as a "key part in social interaction." One's writing skills could make or break their reputation. For example, Shōnagon mentions in The Pillow Book how a courtier asked her for advice for writing a poem and she had to turn him away because of his poor writing skills. During the Heian period, women had a role in society, especially those women who were considered to be upper-class. [11] Female authors in Japan during this time were more popular since they wrote in Japanese, which was considered the "people's language," and the male authors wrote in Chinese since that was considered to be of higher status. [12] Since female author's works were more popular with the common people, it is safe to assume that their works influenced society.

It feels like the universe closes in around us when you touch me. But the moment is so fleeting and you are gone again. Then it is just me with too much space. The universe is awfully large and I am awfully small and I wish you were here to close the space. Of all the tragedies on this earth, there is none more tragic than a person who cannot see their worth. Some of the poems were too straight forward for my taste and I was not a fan of all of them. This was actually my only main problem the whole time I was reading it. But there were ones that really touched me (like, seriously, they touched my heart. . . literally one tear drop down my eye type) and I liked how the poems are not just thrown together and there is actually some find of flow to it in each section if you pay attention to it enough. A lot are pretty much related in a way. If ever the reader gets to reading everything.

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Before the river takes our love and carries it out to sea, I wanted to thank you for loving someone as broken as me. I know it wasn’t easy, I know it wore you down. Before the cities burn to ashes and the sky rains tears, I wanted to say I’m sorry for all these wasted years. Before our bones are no more our bones and our lips are no longer our lips, I hope you take a lover who sails a different ship. May your nights become less brutal and your mornings a little kinder, may your heart find warmth with someone older and a little wiser.

The words are melting in my mouth like snow and I feel like I’m running on empty, but there are only 17 more days until you’re home. I have dreamt every night of the morning we are together again. You will be drinking coffee and I will be talking about how the leaves are changing. In your absence I can barely speak a word, but soon you will be home, and I will watch the leaves until we are together again. My soul is numb, and I am desperate to feel. In times of distress and sadness, mornings are no longer forgivable, and waking up isn’t ideal. It’s 3am and I am lying alone Because you just hung up the phone We’ve spent half the night arguing Because you’re there and I’m here But what else can we do I guess this is growing up When things don’t work out And you fight to hold on Until you realise that sometimes The only thing you have Is to keep moving on Peter Greenaway released his film The Pillow Book in 1996. Starring Vivian Wu and Ewan McGregor, it tells a modern story that references Sei Shōnagon's work. And the 'poems' in each chapter are relevant and are really simple and straightforward that they reach your heart right away!Gibney, Michele (2004). "Defining the Feminine Impact on the Progression of Japanese Language: An inquiry into the development of Heian period court diaries". {{ cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= ( help) I keep wondering how sad do I have to be for someone to stop insisting everything is going to be fine?

There are days where triggers are around every corner, lurking in shadows where darkness spills heavy breaths and tight chests. Anxiety is a devastating thing. No matter how many times you are told to “breathe” it feels as though the air has all but thinned, and despite every logical reason to remain calm, you feel like a ship without its sails in the middle of a raging storm.Bundy, Roselee. “Japan’s First Woman Diarist and the Beginnings of Prose Writings by Women in Japan.” Women’s Studies, vol. 19, no. 1, July 1991, p.79. Academic Search Complete, doi:10.1080/00497878.1991.9978855. In general, The Pillow Book is written in brief statements, where the length of one paragraph is relatively short, and it is easy to read the contents, even for modern Japanese speakers. The miscellaneous collection has been arranged loosely into three specific types, while the collection of similar things has been compiled by distinct classification, and this so-called compiling was done afterwards by the hands of people other than Sei Shōnagon. Based on the beliefs of certain scholars, most of Shonagon's work was written during her time working in the court; however, some of the later entries were written in her later life, and were just based on her memories of the days and moments she experienced previously in the court. I am sorry we are in different states and towns I am sorry for that day I didn’t reply so you drove sixteen hours of dark highway We are breaking the whole world’s heart, all these lonely nights without each other Or maybe the world is slowly breaking us I’m sorry for all the days we’ve spent separately I’m sorry for all the time we cannot make up I’m sorry for being caught up in all your lonely I just wanted a place to stay