わびしらにましらな鳴きそあしひきの
山のかひある今日にやはあらぬ
山のかひある今日にやはあらぬ
- Roma-ji
-
Wabishira ni mashira na naki so ashihiki no yama no kai aru kyō ni ya wa aranu
- English Translation
-
So forlornly, monkeys,
do not cry out in such a way,
in the mountains
there is a gorge, and there is worth,
for is today not such a day?
- Meaning
- Monkeys, do not cry so forlornly. Is today not a day worth celebrating here in the mountain gorge, graced by His Majesty's visit?
- Commentary
-
Book Nineteen Miscellaneous Forms 1067
Headnote: "On the day the Cloistered Emperor visited the Nishikawa, he had poems composed on the topic 'Monkeys cry in the mountain gorge'"
This poem was composed when the Cloistered Emperor Uda, visiting the Nishikawa, that is, the Ōi River, had poems written on the topic "Monkeys cry in the mountain gorge." The cries of monkeys were thought to evoke sorrow, but the poet tells them not to cry mournfully on so auspicious a day as the emperor's visit. Punning on "kai," gorge and worth, it is a witty poem of celebration.
The author, "Mitsune," is Ōshikōchi no Mitsune. One of the compilers of the Kokinshū, he held provincial posts in Kai and Izumi. He is one of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.
First line, "Wabishira ni," means forlornly.
Second line, "mashira na naki so," uses "mashira," monkey, with the prohibitive "na ... so": monkeys, do not cry. The poem breaks here.
Third line, "ashihiki no," is a pillow word for "yama," mountain.
Fourth line, "yama no kai aru," is a pivot word joining "kai," gorge, and "kai," worth, incorporating the topic's mountain gorge. Where 1057 in this book laments with the same pun "kai naku," this poem celebrates with "kai aru."
Fifth line, "kyō ni ya wa aranu," uses rhetorical "ya wa": is it not today?
- Author
- Oshikochi no Mitsune
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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