Two poems by Yamanoue no Okura, composed on the flowers of the autumn fields.
秋の野に咲きたる花を指折りかき数ふれば七草の花
| aki no no ni sakitaru pana wo oyobi ori kakikazopureba nanakusa no pana | In the autumn fields Blooming are the flowers: On my fingers I do count them out, and Seven plants have blooms. |
Yamanoue no Okura
In this video I provide some background information on how the old Japanese conducted love affairs, and the role poetry played in them. In addition, I discuss how some of the features of (pre)modern Japanese pose challenges for the translator of waka.
ただならじ戸ばかり叩く水鶏ゆゑあけてはいかにくやしからまし
| tada naraji to bakari tataku kuina yue akete wa ika ni kuyashikaramashi | It is not so easy, I think – But briefly knocking at my door was A water rail: Opening to it, how Deep would be my regret … |
Murasaki Shikibu
夜もすがら水鶏よりけに鳴く鳴くぞ真木の戸口に叩きわびつる
| yomosugara kuina yori keni naku naku zo maki no toguchi ni tataki wabitsuru | All night long Cries the water rail, but even more Did I weep and weep again At your cedar door I knocked, but found only grief! |
Fujiwara no Michinaga
