Sankashū 1131

On the twentieth day of the Tenth Month, when I had gone to Hiraizumi, the snow was falling and stormy winds were blowing hard, and it was most extraordinarily desolate. Nevertheless, I wanted to see the River Robe as soon as possible and went there to take a look. When I arrived on the river bank, I got the feeling I was gazing upon something most different from the norm, when wandering near Koromo Castle. The riverbank was covered with ice, and it was particularly moving.

とりわきて心もしみてさえぞわたる衣河みにきたるけふしも

toriwakite
kokoro mo shimite
sae zo wataru
koromogawa
mi ni kitaru kyō shimo
How deeply
Sunk within my heart
Is the frost across
The River Robe;
Especially on this day I have come to gaze upon it!

Saigyō
西行

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *