Shimayama ni tereru tachibana uzu ni sashi tsukaematsuru wa maetsukimitachi

島山に照れる橘うずに刺し
仕へまつるは卿大夫たち

Roma-ji: Shimayama ni tereru tachibana uzu ni sashi tsukaematsuru wa maetsukimitachi
English Translation: On the garden hill
the tachibana gleam bright—
wearing them in their hair,
those who serve our sovereign here
are the lords and the nobles
Meaning: Wearing in their hair the tachibana that gleam on the garden hill, the lords and nobles serve our sovereign.
Commentary: Book Nineteen 4276

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Six poems composed at imperial command at the banquet of the Niiname Festival on the twenty-fifth day"
The fourth poem at the Niiname banquet, it depicts the radiant figures of the courtiers at the feast: it is the lords and nobles who serve, wearing in their hair the tachibana fruit glowing on the garden's artificial hill.
The tachibana, shining golden in winter, symbolizes evergreen permanence, and the courtiers wearing it as they serve are overlaid with the prosperity of the reign. The left note says, "The above poem: Fujiwara no Ason Yatsuka, Major Controller of the Right."
The poet, Fujiwara no Yatsuka, was a son of Fujiwara no Fusasaki and later changed his name to Matate. Known for his gentle character, he was on friendly terms with Ōtomo no Yakamochi.

First line, "shimayama ni" (on the garden hill): "shimayama" is an artificial hill in a garden pond.
Second line, "tereru tachibana" (the shining tachibana), depicts the fruit glowing in the winter garden.
Third line, "uzu ni sashi" (worn as hair ornaments): "uzu" is an ornament in hair or cap.
Fourth line, "tsukaematsuru wa" (those who serve), presents the subject.
Fifth line, "maetsukimitachi" (the lords and nobles), is hypermetric and ends on a noun.
Author: Fujiwara no Yatsuka
Source: Manyoshu
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