matsushima ya ojima ga iso ni yoru nami no tsuki no kōri ni chidori nakunari
In Matsushima Upon Ojima’s rocky shore Break waves, while from The moon’s ice The plovers are a’calling.[i]
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[i] See: I went to the province of Sanuki and arrived at harbour called Minotsu. The moon was bright and bamboo racks for growing seaweed filled the bay. Gazing across, into the distance, I saw seabirds arriving and soaring above them. しきわたす月のこほりをうたがひてひびのてまはるあぢのむらとり shikiwatasu / tsuki no kōri o / utagaite / hibi no te mawaru / aji no muradori ‘Spread out all o’er, / The moon for ice / Mistaking / Above the bamboo racks a’circling / Is a flock of teal…’ Saigyō (Sankashū 1404); and: Waterbirds beneath the moon (poetry match) すはのうみの月のこほりにゐるかもはさえぬをりにやおもひとくらん suwa no umi no / tsuki no kōri ni / iru kamo wa / saenu ori ni ya / omoitokuran ‘At the Suwa Sea / Upon the moon’s ice / Rest ducks: / That ’tis not chill at all / I wonder, will they work it out?’ (Hirokoto-shū 66)
tsuki miba to tanomeshi aki no yomosugara mata urameshiku utsu koromo kana
‘When we see the moon…’ We promised, but in autumn, All night long, Still, despairingly Am I fulling clothes![i]
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[i] See: Topic unknown. 月見ばと契をきてしふるさとの人もやこよひ袖ぬらすらん tsuki miba to / chigiri okiteshi / furusato no / hito mo ya koyoi / sode nurasuran ‘“When we see the moon…” / We made our vow; / Left at home / Does she, too, on this night / Have soaking sleeves, I wonder?’ Dharma Master Saigyō (Shinkokinshū X: 938); and: 月見ばとたのめかおきし人はこであさぢが露にまつむしぞなく tsuki miba to / tanome’okishi / hito wa kode / asaji ga tsuyu ni / matsumushi zo naku ‘“When we see the moon…” / Did he promise, before, but / That man has failed to come, and / From the dewy cogon grass / The pine crickets cry!’ Lord Ietaka (Sengohyakuban uta’awase 1428)
kaze fukeba shino ni midaruru karukaya mo yū wa wakite tsuyu koborekeri
When the wind does blow Most tangled are The scrubby grasses, At eventide, particularly, Do they drip with dew.[i]
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[i] See: 荻の葉に露ふきむすぶ秋風もゆふべぞわきて身にはしみける ogi no ha ni/ tsuyu fukimusubu / akikaze mo / yūbe zo wakitem / mi ni wa shimikeru‘To the blades of cogon grass / Carrying drenching dewdrops / The autumn breeze / At eventide, particularly, / Pierces my heart.’ Kaoru (Genji monogatari 761); and: Composed as a poem on stags. さをしかのつまよぶこゑもいかなれや夕はわきてかなしかるらん saoshika no / tsuma yobu koe mo / ika nare ya / yū wa wakite / kanashikaruran ‘The stag, / A’crying for his mate: his bell / Why is it that / Particularly at eventide / It should be so sad?’ Master of the Right Capital Office Naganori (Senzaishū V: 317)
mugura hau yado to wa wakazu aki wa kite kokorozukushi no tsuki zo morikuru
From a mugwort tangled House I am no different: Autumn has come and, Heart draining, The moon comes dripping through.[i]
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[i] An allusive variation on: Topic unknown. このまよりもりくる月の影見れば心づくしの秋はきにけり ko no ma yori / morikuru tsuki no / kage mireba / kokorozukushi no / aki wa kinikeri ‘Between the trees / Drips moon / Light, seeing it I know / Heart draining / Autumn, has come at last.’ Anonymous (Kokinshū IV: 184)
iwa tataku tani no shitamizu oto wakete musubanu sode zo madaki suzushiki
Dripping on the rocks is The water ‘neath the valley— At the sound I feel that, Though they cannot draw it up, my sleeves Are swiftly cooled.[i]
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[i] See, for example: Composed when he presented a hundred poem sequence during the reign of former Emperor Horikawa. みむろ山たににや春のたちぬらむ雪のした水いはたたくなり mimuro no yama / tani ni ya haru no / tachinuramu / yuki no shitamizu / iwa tataku nari ‘Upon Mount Mimuro, / In the valleys, I wonder, has spring / Arisen? / For waters ‘neath the snow / Are dripping on the rocks…’ Middle Counsellor Kuninobu (Senzaishū I: 2); Composed on the conception of enjoying the cool of the evening, when Minister of Justice Yorisuke held a poetry match. いはたたく谷の水のみおとづれて夏にしられぬみ山べのさと iwa tataku / tani no mizu nomi / otozurete / natsu ni shirarenu / miyamabe no sato ‘Dripping on the rocks / The valley’s waters, alone, / Pay me a call, / All ignorant of summer / At my deep mountain retreat…’ Former Consultant Norinaga (Senzaishū III: 221); and: Composed on the conception of it being chilly bathing in a spring at night. さよふかきいづみの水のおときけばむすばぬそでもすずしかりけり sayo fukaki / izumi no mizu no / oto kikeba / musubanu sode mo / suzushikarikeri ‘Deep within a night so brief / When the water of a spring / I hear, / Though they cannot draw it up, my sleeves / Are cool, indeed.’ Minamoto no Morokata (Goshūishū III: 233)
sawamizu ni akikaze chikashi yuku hotaru magau hikari mo kage midaretsutsu
To the waters of the marsh Nears the autumn breeze; Flitting fireflies’ Tangled lights, too, Ever make confused shapes…[i]
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[i] An allusive variation on: Topic unknown. ゆく螢雲の上までいぬべくは秋風吹くと雁に告げこせ yuku hotaru / kumo no ue made / inubeku wa / aki kaze fuku to / kari ni tsugekose ‘O, flitting fireflies, / Beyond the clouds / Should you ascend, then say, / ‘ The Autumn wind is blowing!’ / To the geese.’ Narihira (Gosenshū V: 252)
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]
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[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)
hana no e ni tsuyu no yado kasu miyagino no tsuki ni zo aki no iro wa miekeru
A spray of blossom Has lent lodging to the dewdrops On Miyagi Plain In the moon, truly, autumn’s Hues are plain to see.
[i] This poem was composed for the ‘Poetry Match of Places Famed for the Moon on the 15th Night of the Eighth Month’ (Hachigatsu jūgoya meisho no tsuki uta’awase 八月十五夜名所月歌合) held on night of the 15th day of the Eighth Month, Jōei 1 [1.9.1232] (Ishikawa and Tani 2001, 171), although it was not included in the extant text of the match.
