Poem: I was standing there
Author: Mokichi Saitō (1882–1953) [bio] 
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5      <firstname>Mokichi</firstname>
6      <lastname>Saitō</lastname>
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8    <life-events>
9      <date ty="birth" circa="false" suffix="ad">1882</date>
10      <date ty="death" circa="false" suffix="ad">1953</date>
11      <text-value>(1882–1953)</text-value>
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13    <biography>y</biography>
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16
Translation by: Amy Vladek Heinrich (fl. 1983–2005) 
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2<author>
3  <person id="36931" sex="2" role="translator">
4    <name>
5      <firstname>Amy Vladek</firstname>
6      <lastname>Heinrich</lastname>
7    </name>
8    <life-events>
9      <date ty="birth" circa="false" suffix="ad">1983</date>
10      <date ty="death" circa="false" suffix="ad">2005</date>
11      <text-value>
12        (
13        <i>fl.</i>
14        1983–2005)
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1

I was standing there

by the Tenryu River

where white-capped waves

of the river rapids

5

came cascading from beyond.

To cite this poem:

MLA
Saitō , Mokichi. “I was standing there.” Translated by Amy Vladek Heinrich. Columbia Granger's World of Poetry Online. 2026. Columbia University Press. 14 May. 2026. <http://www.columbiagrangers.org>.

Chicago Manual of Style
Mokichi Saitō . Translated by Amy Vladek Heinrich. “I was standing there.” Columbia Granger's World of Poetry Online. http://www.columbiagrangers.org (accessed May 14, 2026). 

          
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