by Okakura Kakuzo (1862 - 1913)
Tokyo/ October 4
Language: English
Tokyo October 4 Dear Kotchan, Ages have passed – are you changed any? Swans sailing across the ocean have brought tidings of your whereabouts and I am glad that fate has dealt kindly with you. When you left I have felt the loss deeply – the table was suddenly large without your prowling presence. Even now I write with your picture before me. You have killed all the cats in the world for you are alone, -- the only one dear to me. Have you caught your first mice yet? Did he taste nice? Perhaps you enjoy chasing squirrels, there is great pleasure in the quest of the unattainable. You and I know that wonder is the secret of bliss and that with reason comes the death of the beautiful. Be cautious of forming friendship with tomcats – even of the best sort. They can teach only what they acquired through pain; you must learn all through the gate of gladness. Be courageous, for bravery is the key into life. Kotchan! are you lonesome? Loneliness is the lot of many worthier than you or me – With best greetings Your friend Kakuzo I am sending you a small parcel of Japanese Catnip – and hope that it may agree with you.
About the headline (FAQ)
Note: this is a letter to the cat of Isabella Stewart Gardner.
Authorship:
- by Okakura Kakuzo (1862 - 1913), no title [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Scott Wheeler (b. 1952), "Kotchan", 2011, first performed 2011 [ soprano, tenor, baritone, and piano ], from Isabella Letters, no. 2, Scott Wheeler Music [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Eric Saroian
This text was added to the website: 2022-05-25
Line count: 30
Word count: 210