Shunzei-kyō no musume-shū 5

On spring, from among the hundred poem sequence for the Poetry Contest in 1500 Rounds.

明けやらぬ谷の戸過ぐる春風にまづさそはるるうぐひすの声

akeyaranu
tani no to suguru
harukaze ni
mazu sasowaruru
uguisu no koe
No bright opening for
The valley’s door, though the passing
Breeze of spring
First invites
The warbler’s song…[i]

5


[i] See: Sent on the 1st day of the Fourth Month, when Kintō, Captain of the Outer Palace Guards, Right Division had been in seclusion for a while. 谷の戸をとぢやはてつる鶯のまつにおとせではるもすぎぬる tani no to o / toji ya wa hatetsuru / uguisu no / matsu ni otosede / haru mo suginuru ‘Is the valley’s door / Firmly shut, for / The warbler, / Awaited, makes no sound as / Spring wears on?’ The Minister of the Left (Shūishū XVI: 1064)

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