A poem on Mount Fuji, with tanka.
なまよみの 甲斐の國 うち寄する 駿河の國と こちごちの 國のみ中ゆ 出で立てる 富士の高嶺は 天雲も い行きはばかり 飛ぶ鳥も 飛びも上らず 燃ゆる火を 雪もて消ち 降る雪を 火もて消ちつつ 言ひも得ず 名付けも知らず くすしくも います神かも せの海と 名付けてあるも その山の つつめる海ぞ 富士川と 人の渡るも その山の 水のたぎちぞ 日の本の 大和の國の 鎭めとも います神かも 寶とも なれる山かも 駿河なる 富士の高嶺は 見れど飽かぬかも
| namayomi nö kapi nö kuni utiyösuru suruga nö kuni tö kötigöti nö kuni nö minaka yu idetateru pudi nö takane pa amakumo mo iyuki pabakari tobu töri mo tobi mo noborazu moyuru pï mo yuki mote keti puru yuki wo pï mote ketitutu ipi mo izu naduke mo sirazu kususiku mo imasu kamï ka mo se nö umi tö nadukete aru mo sono yama nö tutumeru umi zö pudigapa tö pitö nö wataru mo sono yama nö midu nö tagiti zö pi nö motö nö yamatö nö kuni no sidume tömo imasu kamï ka mo takara tö mo nareru yama ka mo suruga naru pudi nö takane pa miredö akanu ka mo |
By The land of Kai and The wave-washed Land of Suruga Around about Lie the lands and in their midst Rises up The peak of Fuji: Heaven’s clouds Halt in their course, and Winging birds, as well Will not fly atop it; Its burning fire Is quenched with snow, and Falling snow Dissolves in fire; No words can tell, I know not how to name The mystery Of this living God; The Barnacle Sea Or so is named, The mountain’s Embraced waters; “The Fuji River” they say, As men cross, The mountain’s Foaming torrents; Source of the sun, The land of Yamato Is warded by The living God; A treasure Is the mountain, In Suruga The high peak of Fuji: I gaze on it, yet am never sated by the sight. |
Takahashi no Mushimaro (active 720s – 730s)
高橋虫麻呂