この夕降りくる雨は彦星の
早漕ぐ舟の櫂の散りかも
早漕ぐ舟の櫂の散りかも
- Roma-ji
-
Kono yūbe furikuru ame wa hikoboshi no haya kogu fune no kai no chiri ka mo
- English Translation
-
On this evening now
the rain that is falling down—
of the Herdsman Star,
from the boat he rows so fast,
is it spray from off his oars?
- Meaning
- The rain falling this evening—could it be spray scattered from the oars of the Herdsman's boat, rowed in such haste?
- Commentary
-
Book Ten Autumn Miscellaneous Poems 2052
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Tanabata"
This poem likens the rain falling on Tanabata evening to spray scattering from the oars of the boat the Herdsman rows in haste. Linking the rain falling on earth with the Herdsman's crossing in heaven, it imagines him hurrying to the meeting. Like 2041, which likened white clouds to the Weaver's scarf, it likens a natural phenomenon seen from earth to the figures of the two Tanabata stars.
The first line, "this evening," refers to Tanabata evening.
The second line, "the rain that falls," marks the theme.
The third line, "of the Herdsman," names the rower.
The fourth line, "the boat rowed swiftly," shows his haste to meet.
The last line, "the scattering from the oars," closes with the comparison.
- Source
- Manyoshu
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