Rock Azalea
えだしあればおひぞしにけるいはつつじはなさくまでにならむとやみし
| eda shi areba oi zo shinikeru iwatsutsuji hana saku made ni naramu to ya mishi | There the branches are, so Growing seem to be Azaleas on the rocks— Until the flowers bloom Here I’ll be, I saw. |
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Category Archives: Ōmi no miyasudokoro uta’awase
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Peach Blossom
さきし時なほこそみしかももの花ちればをしくぞ思ひなりぬる
| sakishi toki nao koso mishika momo no hana chireba oshiku zo omoinarinuru | When they bloomed, Did I gaze upon Peach blossoms, and When they scattered, regret I felt deeply, indeed! |
9[i]
[ii] This poem is included in Shūishū (XVI: 1030) as an anonymous poem with the headnote ‘Topic unknown’.
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Pear Blossom
春立てばいづこともなしのはなりぬわかなつむべくなりぞしにける
| haru tateba izuko tomo nashi no hanarinu wakana tsumubeku nari zo shininkeru | When the springtime comes, There’s nowhere that’s Not far away, for I should pick fresh herbs— That’s what I’ve decided! |
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This poem is an acrostic, with ‘pear blossom’ (nashi no hana) contained within nashi no hanarinu.
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Garden Cherry
あさごとに我がはくやどのにはざくらはなちるほどはてもふれでみむ
| asa goto ni wa ga haku yado no niwazakura hana chiru hodo wa te mo furede mimu | Every single morning Around my house I could sweep Garden cherry Blossoms, scattered I’ll not touch them, but gaze on them, instead! |
7[i]
[i] This poem is included in Shūishū (I: 61) as an anonymous poem with the headnote ‘Among the poems from a poetry match held by the Fujitsubo Junior Consort during the reign of the Engi Emperor’, and also in Kokin rokujō (4234) with the headnote ‘Garden Cherry’.
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Taiwan Cherry
あづさゆみ春の山べにけぶりたちもゆともみえぬひざくらのはな
| azusayumi haru no yamabe ni keburi tachi moyu tomo mienu hizakura no hana | A catalpa bow: From the mountainside in springtime Smoke rising— Doesn’t it appear to be burning with Fiery cherry blossoms. |
6[i]
The Japanese name for this breed of cherry is hizakura (‘fire cherry’)—hence the imagery used in the poem.
[i] This poem is included in Kokin rokujō (4234), attributed to Ōchikōchi no Mitsune with the headnote ‘Taiwan Cherry’.
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Chinaberry
うぐひすの来の花とのみいふなればあふちどりをばすゑむともせず
| uguisu no ki no hana to nomi iu nareba au chidori oba suemu to mo sezu | The bush warbler Come simply for the blossom They do say, but On meeting a plover, then You’ll not make it roost there! |
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This is another acrostic with the name of the plant, ōchi [auchi], contained within au chidori.
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Topics
| Plum | Willow | Blossoming Cherry | Bird Cherry |
| Chinaberry | Taiwan Cherry | Garden Cherry | Peach Blossom |
| Rock Azalea | Mulberry Blossom | Snowbell Blossom | Smilax Blossom |
| Maple | Sand Pear Blossom | Fox Willow | Budding Azalea |
| Waterweed | Kerria Blooms | Wisteria Blooms |
The event was held in the Lady of the Bedchamber’s private apartment, presenting poems on blossoms at the palace. Poems were not presented for the Right.
Plum
かをとめてをりこそしつれむめの花春の霞は立ちかくせども
| ka o tomete ori koso shitsure mume no hana haru no kasumi wa tachikakusedomo | To hold their fragrance here, Indeed, have I picked Plum blossoms, though The haze of spring Arise to hide them from my sight… |
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