わたつみのかざしに挿せる白妙の
波もて結へる淡路島山
波もて結へる淡路島山
- Roma-ji
-
Watatsumi no kazashi ni saseru shirotae no nami mote yueru awajishimayama
- English Translation
-
Set in the hair
of the god of the wide sea,
bound all around
with waves of pure white cloth:
the isle and hills of Awaji.
- Meaning
- The hills of Awaji Island, bound round with pure white waves, look like an ornament the sea god has set in his hair.
- Commentary
-
Book Seventeen Miscellaneous Poems I 911
Headnote: "Topic unknown"
Awaji Island, ringed with white waves, is likened to an ornament the sea god has set in his hair. The broad, splendid fancy of the surrounding white waves as white cords binding the hair is striking. The author is unknown.
First line "watatsumi no" is the same opening as the preceding poem, 910; here it means the sea god, leading to personification.
Second line "kazashi ni saseru" means set as a hair ornament, likening the island to the sea god's adornment.
Third line "shirotae no" stresses whiteness from its sense of white cloth and modifies "waves."
Fourth line "nami mote yueru" means bound round with waves, likening the white waves around the island to cords tying the hair.
Fifth line "awajishimayama" ends with a noun, naming the object of the fancy last to heighten the impression.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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Watatsumi no okitsu shioai ni ukabu awa no kienu mono kara yoru kata mo nashi
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Wata no hara yosekuru nami no shibashiba mo mimaku no hoshiki tamatsushima kamo