Many writers of the early Meiji period continued the scholarly tradi-
tion of writing poetry and prose in Chinese. The growth of interest
in the West tended increasingly to lessen the popularity of classical
Chinese studies, but it was Natsume Sōseki, a scholar of English
literature, who wrote the most distinguished poetry in Chinese of
any Japanese of recent times.

Niagara Falls

The startled traveler wakes to the thunder by his pillow,
Rises and climbs among old trees to the roaring brink.
In the deep night, white all heaven and earth;
The moon comes, parting the curtain of a million misty pearls.

Narushima Ryūhoku ( 1837-1884)

In the Army

To fret at the time, to bewail the age--how pointless!
More sense in howling at the moon or fashioning rhymes on
flowers.
Should anyone come to camp and ask for me today,
Say that the General went to bed drunk and has not yet
wakened.

Fujita Koshirō ( 1842-1865)

Song of Victory: The Battle of Port Arthur

With the King's million I struck the proud foe;
From the plains drove upon the fort until the dead were piled
in hills.

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