Tag Archives: jewelled missive

Sankashū I: 48

Returning geese.

たまづさのはしがきかとも見ゆるかなとびおくれつつかへるかりがね

tamazusa no
hashigaki ka tomo
miyuru kana
tobi’okuretsutsu
kaeru kari ga ne
As on a jewelled missive’s
Margin scribbled, perhaps,
Do they appear!
Parted from their flock in flight,
Cry returning geese.[i]

48


[i] See:

Composed on returning geese.

うすずみにかくたまづさとみゆるかなかすめるそらにかへるかりがね

usuzumi ni
kaku tamazusa to
miyuru kana
kasumeru sora ni
kaeru kari ga ne
As on pale grey paper
Scribed, a jewelled missive
Do they appear!
From the hazy sky comes
The cries of returning geese…

 Kunimoto, Governor of Tsu
Goshūishū I: 71