あしひきの山椿咲く八つ峰越え
鹿待つ君が斎ひ妻かも
鹿待つ君が斎ひ妻かも
- Roma-ji
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Ashihiki no yamatsubaki saku yatsuo koe shishi matsu kimi ga iwaizuma kamo
- English Translation
-
On the rugged hills
where camellias are blooming,
crossing the many peaks,
you who lie in wait for deer—
am I not your wife at prayer?
- Meaning
- You cross the many peaks where mountain camellias bloom to lie in wait for deer—and I am the wife who keeps herself pure, praying for your safe return.
- Commentary
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Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1262
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Occasional Poems"
The poem speaks of a wife who keeps herself pure and prays for the safety of her husband as he crosses the peaks where camellias bloom to go hunting. The figure of a wife anxious for a husband gone deep into the hills is drawn together with the color of spring camellias.
It is one of the occasional poems. Interpretations of "iwaizuma" vary, but it is generally taken as a wife who purifies herself and abstains, praying for her husband's safety. It comes from the Old Poetry Collection. The poet is unknown.
The first line, "On the rugged hills," is the pillow word "ashihiki no," which modifies "mountain."
The second line, "where camellias are blooming," describes the mountains.
The third line, "crossing the many peaks," means going over ridge after ridge.
The fourth line, "you who lie in wait for deer," refers to the husband out hunting.
In the final line, "kamo" is exclamatory: "the wife who keeps herself pure for you."
- Source
- Manyoshu
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Yamamori no sato e kayoishi yamamichi zo shigeku narikeru wasurekerashi mo
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Akatoki to yogarasu nakedo kono oka no konure no ue wa imada shizukeshi