Santōka Alarm
日本語EN

under the blazing sky the rails run straight

enten no rēru massugu

1939–1940 · Matsuyama, Issō-an hermitage
Sōmokutō · The Crow (Karasu)

Notes

Under a broiling midsummer sky, the rails alone stretch straight into the distance. The iron line, without hesitation or bend, is oddly bracing in the fierce heat. The destination may not yet be visible, but the road, at least, is sure — a poem fit for a summer morning's departure.

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山頭火アラーム アプリアイコン

Wake to this poem.

Santōka Alarm is an iOS app that wakes you each morning with a single poem.
Set a poem you love as your alarm.

Download on the App Store iOS 26+