Mulberry Blossom
わだつみをこぎゆくふねのかぢのきのはなとはさらになみぞたちける
| wadatsumi o kogiyuku fune no kaji no ki no hana to wa sara ni nami zo tachikeru | Across the broad main, Rowing, goes a boat with Oars of mulberry Blossom, still In waves arising. |
11

A poem on Mount Kagu by Kamo no Taruhito.
天之芳来山 霞立 春尓至婆 松風尓 池浪立而 櫻花 木乃晩茂尓 奥邊波 鴨妻喚 邊津方尓 味村左和伎 百礒城之 大宮人乃 退出而 遊船尓波 梶棹毛 無而不樂毛 己具人奈四二
天降りつく 天の香具山 霞立つ 春に至れば 松風に 池波立ちて 桜花 木の暗茂に 沖辺には 鴨妻呼ばひ 辺つ辺に あぢ群騒き ももしきの 大宮人の 退り出て 遊ぶ船には 楫棹も なくて寂しも 漕ぐ人なしに
| 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… |
A poem by Her Majesty, the Dowager Empress.
鯨魚取り 近江の海を 沖放けて 漕ぎ来る船 辺付きて 漕ぎ来る船 沖つ櫂 いたくな撥ねそ 辺つ櫂 いたくな撥ねそ 若草の 夫の 思ふ鳥立つ
| isana tori opomi no umi wo oki sakete kogikitaru pune pe tu kite kogikuru pune oki tu kai itaku na pane so pe tu kai itaku na pane so wakakusa no tuma no omopu tori tatu |
In the whale-hunting Sea of Ōmi From far off in the offing Boats come rowing; Nearing the shore, Boats come rowing; Off in the offing, oars Beat not so hard! By the shore, oars Beat not so hard! A fresh blade of grass – My husband’s Beloved birds you’ll start to flight! |
Yamato Hime no Ōkimi
倭皇后