Things that Please: Sei Shōnagon

Sei Shōnagon was a lady of the court in Imperial Japan, born around 966 AD.  She was a poet and writer, who kept a "Pillow Book" in which she wrote her thoughts and entries detailing court life.  Some of the entries were lists of things on a given subject, such as "Hateful Things", some reflections on behavior, such as on "A Good Lover."



In honor of Sei Shōnagon, my list of the day:

Things that Please The cries of baby birds from one's tree. "Food, food!" Rose bushes in one's garden, a feast of lush colors, crowned by one with flowers the size of latte cups, light yellow, blushing pink at the trembling edges. One's sleepy dog, her ballerina feet twitching in a dream of chasing bunnies. Neat piles of crisp laundry, smelling faintly of jasmine. Steam curling from the morning's first cup of tea. Poetry written with a purple pen. A friend calling at an indecent hour just to say 'hi.' Turquoise flip-flops with green frogs on them — summer feet. Making travel plans to destinations too expensive to bear, but promising oneself  "some day." The neighbor's backyard lights turning on to reveal the silhoutte of a wild fox. Writing one's 'pillow-blog*' even when one's hand is cramping from the revenge of the carpal tunnel. The thought of wonderful people stumbling in to read what one has scribbled.

 
<3 A

* I ardently wish I had coined this one, but Philobiblon got there first :)

Peter Greenaway made a strange and wonderful movie as an homage to Sei Shōnagon — incredibly lovely cinematic treats in this one.  And, Ewan McGregor in all his glory is nothing to scoff at....
The Pillowbook (1996).

Tags: Books