Drawn from classical, medieval, and modern sources - including the imperial collections of the Manyoshu and Kokinshu - this elegantly designed gift book gathers some of the greatest love poems of Japan. The poems range in tone from the spiritual longing of an isolated monk to the erotic ecstasy of a court princess, but share the simplicity and luminosity of Kenneth Rexroth's verse style. An introduction by editor Sam Hamill and short biographies of the poets are included.