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]
6
[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)
