Topic unknown.
こやのいけにおふるあやめのながきねはひくしらいとの心ちこそすれ
| koya no ike ni oFuru ayame no nagaki ne Fa Fiku sira’ito no kokoti koso sure | At Koya Pond A’growing, the sweet-flags’ Long roots of Spun white silken threads Do remind me! |
Taikenmon’in no Horikawa
Tag Archives: sweet flags
Dairi uta’awase – Ōwa ni-nen 04
SIS XX: 1281
The year after his son Fukutari had died after planting some sweet-flags in the stream of their garden, when he saw them growing up.
しのべとやあやめもしらぬ心にもながからぬよのうきにうゑけん
| sinobe to ya ayame mo siranu kokoro ni mo nagakaranu yo no uki ni uweken | That I would remember him The sweet flags, too, know not, but In their hearts, as well, I wonder, That he was not long in this world, Has a seed of sorrow been planted? |
The Awata Minister of the Right
Tōgū gakushi noritada uta’awase 01
Poetry Match held by Noritada, Confucian Tutor to the Heir Apparent[i]
Topics
Poets
Judge
Sweet-flags in the Valley
Left
たにふかみたづねてぞひくあやめぐさちとせあるべきくすりとおもへば
| tani fukami tazunete zo hiku ayamegusa chitose arubeki kusuri to omoeba | Deep within the valley Seek and pick Sweet-flags! For a thousand years longevity Will their draught bring, I feel… |
1
Right
たにふかみおふるあやめのながきねはひきかつ人もあらじとぞおもふ
| tani fukami ouru ayame no nagaki ne wa hiki katsu hito mo araji to zo omou | Deep within the valley Grow sweet-flags— So long their roots that A skillful picker Is there none, I feel! |
2
Nine-knotted sweet-flags grow in valleys atop rocks, so every year on this day, folk gather together and pick sweet-flag roots to make medicine from them, so one should compose as though cupping the water of this conception in one’s hands. The overall impression of the Right’s poem, while it may be something encountered occasionally, is that it shows ignorance of the conception of the topic and only refers to how long the roots are—it loses, but there may be some depth there.
こころあさきみぎはにおふるあやめぐさひきどころなきものにざりける
| kokoro asaki migiwa ni ouru ayamegusa hikidokoro naki mono ni zarikeru | Conception shallow Right by the water’s edge a’growing Are sweet flags: There’s no value in picking Such things! |
Judge 1
[i] Tōgū gakushi noritada uta’awase 東宮学士義忠歌合
Kinkai wakashū 163
Kinkai wakashū 162
SIS II: 111
Topic unknown.
あし引の山郭公けふとてやあやめの草のねにたててなく
| asiFiki no yamaFototogisu keFu tote ya ayame no kusa no ne ni tatete naku | Leg wearying, The mountain cuckoo, Knowing today, perhaps, On the sweet-flag Roots does perch and sing. |
A composition by the Engi Emperor [Daigo]
Kanpyō no ōntoki kisai no miya uta’awase 36
Left
なつの日のくるるもしらず鳴く蝉をとひもしてしか何ごとかうき
| natsu no hi no kururu mo shirazu naku semi o toi mo shiteshika nani goto ka uki | Of the summer sun’s Setting unaware are The singing cicadas: Had I but asked them of it, What would they despise? |
70
Right
あやめ草いくらの五月あひくらむ来る年毎にわかく見ゆらむ
| ayamegusa ikura no satsuki aikuramu kuru toshigoto ni wakaku miyuramu | O, sweet flags! In how many Fifth Months Have you come to meet me? With every turning year You seem younger to me! |
71