Composed and sent to the Monk Shoku (ca. 917-1007).
暗より暗道にぞ入ぬべき遙に照せ山の葉の月
| kurasa yori kuraki miti ni zo irinubeki Faruka ni terase yama no Fa no tuki | From darkness On a shadowed path I must make my way; Let it faintly shine, The moon upon the mountain’s edge. |
Masamune’s Daughter [Izumi] Shikibu
和泉式部
Is 山の葉 a standard expression? It seems to suggest that the moon lights up a sliver of the mountain as slender as a blade of grass or a pine needle.
It’s a bit of orthographic play: it would normally be written 山の端, meaning the ‘edge’, that is, ridgeline of the mountains, which the moon sinks towards when it sets. By using 葉 ‘leaf’ instead, it suggests the more blurred line of the mountains around the capital and in the Yamato region, which aren’t rocky, knife-edged peak, but covered with trees.
You made this translation and transcription in 2015, seven years ago. I’d be interested to see how you would do it now and a comparison (by you) of the differences, if you have time.
That’s a good question. I think I would change the final two ‘lines’ to make them a more direct address, and pluralise the mountains (this is more appropriate given the topography around Kyoto): ‘Faintly shine, / O, moon upon the mountains’ edge!’
The change would give the poem a more personal tone, which would be in keeping with its allegorical nature – a plea by Izumi Shikibu for the light of Buddhist salvation.
Thank you.