Le Voyage Magnifique

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The Imayo , meaning "present style", has a more fluid frame than most Japanese forms. However, it seems that whenever I research a Japanese frame, it involves an alternating 5-7 or 7-5 syllabic structure. The Imayo of the 12th century is no exception. This form creates long lines broken by caesura separating 7 and 5 syllables in the line.

It is associated with song, (recitation in a high pitch) and originated with the common people in folk song. But by the Heian period it was embraced by the Imperial court. This folk art evolved with the influence of Imperial aristocrats and famous courtesans or Shirabyoshi dancers incorporated the Imayo into their performances. One type of Imayo is used in Kabuki, Japanese theatre.

The elements of the Imayo are:
1. a 4 line poem, a tetrastich.
2. syllabic, written in 12 syllable lines broken by caesura after the 7th syllable.

Shosagoto*

Dancing girl at the temple, with grace and control
in resonance with pitched chant, three-stringed shamisen*
accompanies the lyrics, tunes of the ancients
played out on Kabuki stage, hyoshigi* crack.
~~Judi Van Gorder

*shosagoto are the dance pieces of the kabuki theater
*shamisen is traditional 3 stringed, long necked instrument similar to a lute
*hyoshigi are wooden blocks slapped together to make a dramatic cracking sound, a traditional, signature sound of the kabuki.

~ Judi Van Gorder, aka Tinker