Kakitsubata kinu ni suritsuke masurao no kisoi kari suru tsuki wa kinikeri

かきつばた衣に摺り付け大夫の
着襲ひ猟する月は来にけり

Roma-ji: Kakitsubata kinu ni suritsuke masurao no kisoi kari suru tsuki wa kinikeri
English Translation: With iris blossoms
rubbed upon their robes for dye,
the men of valor
in their finery go hunting—
now that month has come again
Meaning: The month has come when the gallant men rub iris blossoms into their robes to dye them and, dressed in their finest, go out hunting.
Commentary: Book Seventeen 3921

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Six poems composed on the fifth day of the fourth month of the sixteenth year, while living alone at my old house in Heijō"
The month has come when brave men dye their robes with iris flowers and go hunting in their finery—a poem looking forward to a seasonal rite. This is one of six poems Yakamochi composed on the fifth day of the fourth month of 744, living alone in his old house at Heijō, which had become a former capital as the court moved from Kuni to Naniwa. The medicinal hunt of the fifth day of the fifth month was a splendid court event, and writing on the fifth day of the fourth month he senses its season approaching while living alone in the old capital. It closes the six.
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was the son of the Major Counselor Ōtomo no Tabito. Appointed Governor of Etchū in 746, he spent five years there, later serving as Junior Counselor and Governor of Inaba before rising to Middle Counselor. He is thought to have played a central role in compiling the Man'yōshū.
The left note reads, "The above six poems were composed by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi on the fifth day of the fourth month of the sixteenth year of Tenpyō, living alone in his old house in his home town of Heijō."

First line, "kakitsubata": the rabbit-ear iris, which blooms purple in early summer.
Second line, "kinu ni suritsuke": rubbing the flowers into the cloth to dye it, the technique of rub-dyeing.
Third line, "masurao no": the fine, manly courtiers.
Fourth line, "kisoi kari suru": kisou means to dress in layered finery, and kari is the medicinal hunt of the fifth day of the fifth month, a court event for gathering young deer antlers and herbs.
Fifth line, "tsuki wa kinikeri": "the month has come," an exclamation of realization. It rounds off the early-summer images of orange blossoms and hototogisu in the six poems with the arrival of the festive season.
Author: Otomo no Yakamochi
Source: Manyoshu
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