from Kame-no-o
along the rooted mountain rocks
falling, the cascade—
its white jeweled drops, could they be
the count of your thousand years

Meaning

From Mount Kame-no-o, along the rooted rocks, the falling cascade—are its white jeweled drops the count of your thousand years?

Commentary

Book Seven Felicitations

A poem composed when Prince Sadatoki held a fortieth-year celebration for his grandmother at Ōi.

The turtle, a symbol of long life, is evoked in “Kame-no-o,” while the countless droplets of the waterfall are likened to the many years of a long life. In this way, the poem celebrates the recipient’s longevity with an image of abundance and continuity.

Author

Ki no Koretake

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

by the mighty gods was this staff perhaps cut forth— as I take it up now even the slope of a thousand years seems one I may yet cross
cherry blossoms scatter, whirl, and cloud the way— so that the path by which old age is said to come may lose itself and stray
idly passing by the months and days I do not feel— yet when I behold the spring spent gazing at blossoms how few such seasons there are

from Kame-no-o along the rooted mountain rocks falling, the cascade— its white jeweled drops, could they be the count of your thousand years

from Kame-no-o
along the rooted mountain rocks
falling, the cascade—
its white jeweled drops, could they be
the count of your thousand years