Topic unknown.[i]
はるしれと谷のほそみづもりぞくるいはまの氷ひまたえにけり
| haru shire to tani no hosomizu mori zo kuru iwama no kōri hima taenikeri | ‘Realise ‘tis spring!’, says The trickle of water through the valley Leaking out from The ice between the rocks, where Cracks have appeared.[ii] |
[i] This poem has an alternate headnote: ‘On mountain waters announcing [spring], when various people were composing poems for the Bosatsu’in Ise Virgin.’ Gotō (1982, 12) notes that this is an erroneous reference to Imperial Princess Muneko (Tōshi) 統子内親王 (1126-1189), later known as Jōsaimon’in 上西門院, who, in fact, served as Kamo Virgin.
[ii] Saigyō composed on a similar theme for the Mimosugawa uta’awase 御裳濯河歌合 (‘Mimosugawa Poetry Match’; 1187) of his own poems: 岩まとぢし氷もいまはとけ初めて苔の下水道もとむなり iwama tojishi / kōri mo ima wa / tokehajimete / koke no shitamizu / michi motomu nari ‘Cracks between the crags sealed / By ice, now / Beginning to melt, and / The water ‘neath the ice / Seeks to find its way.’(Mimosugawa uta’awase 22)
岩たたく谷の下水音わけてむすばぬ袖ぞまだきすずしき
| iwa tataku tani no shitamizu oto wakete musubanu sode zo madaki suzushiki | Dripping on the rocks is The water ‘neath the valley— At the sound I feel that, Though they cannot draw it up, my sleeves Are swiftly cooled.[i] |
7
[i] See, for example: Composed when he presented a hundred poem sequence during the reign of former Emperor Horikawa. みむろ山たににや春のたちぬらむ雪のした水いはたたくなり mimuro no yama / tani ni ya haru no / tachinuramu / yuki no shitamizu / iwa tataku nari ‘Upon Mount Mimuro, / In the valleys, I wonder, has spring / Arisen? / For waters ‘neath the snow / Are dripping on the rocks…’ Middle Counsellor Kuninobu (Senzaishū I: 2); Composed on the conception of enjoying the cool of the evening, when Minister of Justice Yorisuke held a poetry match. いはたたく谷の水のみおとづれて夏にしられぬみ山べのさと iwa tataku / tani no mizu nomi / otozurete / natsu ni shirarenu / miyamabe no sato ‘Dripping on the rocks / The valley’s waters, alone, / Pay me a call, / All ignorant of summer / At my deep mountain retreat…’ Former Consultant Norinaga (Senzaishū III: 221); and: Composed on the conception of it being chilly bathing in a spring at night. さよふかきいづみの水のおときけばむすばぬそでもすずしかりけり sayo fukaki / izumi no mizu no / oto kikeba / musubanu sode mo / suzushikarikeri ‘Deep within a night so brief / When the water of a spring / I hear, / Though they cannot draw it up, my sleeves / Are cool, indeed.’ Minamoto no Morokata (Goshūishū III: 233)
On spring, from among the hundred poem sequence for the Poetry Contest in 1500 Rounds.
明けやらぬ谷の戸過ぐる春風にまづさそはるるうぐひすの声
| akeyaranu tani no to suguru harukaze ni mazu sasowaruru uguisu no koe | No bright opening for The valley’s door, though the passing Breeze of spring First invites The warbler’s song…[i] |
5
[i] See: Sent on the 1st day of the Fourth Month, when Kintō, Captain of the Outer Palace Guards, Right Division had been in seclusion for a while. 谷の戸をとぢやはてつる鶯のまつにおとせではるもすぎぬる tani no to o / toji ya wa hatetsuru / uguisu no / matsu ni otosede / haru mo suginuru ‘Is the valley’s door / Firmly shut, for / The warbler, / Awaited, makes no sound as / Spring wears on?’ The Minister of the Left (Shūishū XVI: 1064)
Sent on the 1st day of the Fourth Month, when Kintō, Captain of the Outer Palace Guards, Right Division had been in seclusion for a while.
谷の戸をとぢやはてつる鶯のまつにおとせではるもすぎぬる
| tani no to wo todi ya Fa Fateturu uguFisu no matu ni otosede Faru mo suginuru | Is the valley’s door Firmly shut, for The warbler, Awaited, makes no sound as Spring wears on? |
The Minister of the Left
Composed on the conception of enjoying the cool of the evening, when Minister of Justice Yorisuke held a poetry match.
いはたたく谷の水のみおとづれて夏にしられぬみ山べのさと
| iFa tataku tani no midu nomi otodurete natu ni sirarenu yamabe no sato | Dripping on the rocks The valley’s waters, alone, Pay me a call, All ignorant of summer At my deep mountain retreat… |
Former Consultant Norinaga
