Jidai fudō uta’awase 17

Round Seventeen

Left

みな人は花のころもになりぬなりこけのたもとよかわきだにせよ

minahito wa
hana no koromo ni
narinu nari
koke no tamoto yo
kawaki dani seyo
All the other folk,
In robes of flowering hues
Are dressed.
But, oh, these mossy sleeves of mine,
Let them at least dry out.

33[i]

Right

おほけなくうきよのたみにおほふかなわがたつそまにすみぞめの袖

ōkenaku
uki yo no tami ni
ōu kana
wa ga tatsu soma ni
sumizome no sode
Imprudently
Upon the common folk of this cruel world
I lay them—
In the cell where I now dwell:
Ink-dyed sleeves…

34[ii]


[i] KKS XVI: 847: During the reign of the Fukakusa Emperor, being Head Chamberlain, Henjō served His Majesty day and night and, after the death of His Majesty, abandoned this world and went to Mount Hiei to become a monk. The following year, when everyone had put off their mourning clothes, and he had heard of their pleasure over promotions and suchlike, he composed this.

[ii] SZS XVII: 1137/1134: Topic unknown.

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