月夜にはそれとも見えず梅の花
かをたづねてぞしるべかりける
かをたづねてぞしるべかりける
- Roma-ji
-
Tsukiyo ni wa sore to mo miezu ume no hana
ka o tazunete zo shirubekarikeru - English Translation
-
On a moonlit night,
I could not tell which was which—
plum blossoms,
so by seeking out their scent,
I came to know the way.
- Meaning
- On a moonlit night, all was washed in white light and I could not tell which were the plum blossoms, so by seeking out their scent I knew which were the plum blossoms.
- Commentary
-
Spring Songs, Book One
When asked on a moonlit night, “Please break off a branch of plum blossoms,” this poem was composed as the branch was broken off and handed over.
This poem does not describe an actual scene that white plum blossoms are hard to distinguish by moonlight, but rather sings of a fanciful notion.
- Author
- Oshikochi no Mitsune
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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