The Bridge at Uji

<p>Uji is now a suburb to the south of Kyoto and its bridge over the river was first constructed in the 10<sup>th</sup> century. At one end sits a modern representation of Murasaki who introduced the bridge into the last chapters of her novel translated by Arthur Waley as <em>The Tale of Genji.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p>I sat by the bridge for half a day some years back watching the water flow in one direction while foot passengers and traffic moved across at right angles.</p><p> </p><p>On return to London the physicality of the bridge returned <em>qua</em> metaphor both as expressed by that particular bridge passage and as suggested by all modes of transition - though these might shift. In the poems that follow that metaphorical gesture repeats and may be interpreted idiosyncratically by separate readers.</p>