There would be lights, faintly seen, glowing

through gently swaying bamboos.

They should grow taller to one side,

perhaps to the right of the steeply arched

wooden bridge.  The bamboos growing not

so tall at the left-hand side there might be a first

glimpse, merely the corner roof tiles,

hinting at the tavern itself.

To see more you could quietly step across

 the carefully carved curve

over the unseen stream,

that you might see

the tavern in a bamboo grove by a bridge.

Once the Emperor used to encourage artists

through contests with a new theme each year.

In the year of the tavern in a bamboo grove

by a bridge he gave the award to the one

who painted a simple sign post, half hidden

by bamboos, bearing the single word, ‘Tavern’.