yara no saki tsukikage samushi okitsudori kamo to iu fune ukinesurashi mo
Above Yara Point The moonlight is chill above A bird upon the offing, The boat named ‘Duck’ Seems to drift, dozing…[i]
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[i] See: [One of] Ten poems by fishermen from Shiga, in the province of Chikuzen. 奥鳥 鴨云舟者 也良乃崎 多未弖榜来跡 所聞礼許奴可聞 okitsutori / kamo to iu fune wa / yara no saki / tamite kogiku to / kikoekonu kamo ‘As a bird upon the offing / The boat named ‘Duck’ / Around Yara Point / Has come a’rowing— / Won’t someone come to hear…’ (Man’yōshū XVI: 3867)
amorituku ame no kaguyama kiri tatu paru ni itareba matukaze ni ikenami tatite sakurabana ko no kuresige ni okipe ni pa kamo tuma yobapi petupe ni adi murasawagi momosiki no opomiyabito no makaridete asobu pune ni pa kadisawo mo nakute sabusi mo kogu pito nasi ni
Descended from heaven is Sacred Mount Kagu where Mists arise When the spring does come, The wind through the pines Raises waves from pond waters, and Cherry blossom’s Profusion shades the trees, while Out in the offing, Ducks call for a mate and On the shore Teals flock noisily; Hundredfold, The palace folk were wont to Travel out On pleasure boats, but Oars and poles Are there none—so sad— For there’s not a soul to row them…
