新しき年の初めに思ふどち
い群れて居れば嬉しくもあるか
い群れて居れば嬉しくもあるか
- Roma-ji
-
Aratashiki toshi no hajime ni omou dochi imurete oreba ureshiku mo aru ka
- English Translation
-
At the beginning
of a new year freshly come,
friends of a single heart
gathered here together—
how joyful it is indeed
- Meaning
- At the start of a new year, to be gathered here together with friends of one heart—how joyful it is.
- Commentary
-
Book Nineteen 4284
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Three poems from a banquet at the house of the Junior Assistant Minister of Civil Affairs, Isonokami no Ason Yakatsugu, on the fourth day of the first month of the fifth year"
The third poem at Isonokami no Yakatsugu's banquet, it frankly expresses the joy of the New Year's feast: at the start of the new year, how glad it is to be gathered with friends of one mind. Following the two poems that enjoyed the allegory of plum and love, it closes the three with the joy of the banquet itself.
"At the beginning of the new year" in the first two lines is the same expression as in Yakamochi's 4229 in this book, echoing as a stock phrase of New Year banquet poems. The left note says, "The above poem: Prince Funado, Master of the Palace Table."
The poet, Prince Funado, was a son of Prince Niitabe and grandson of Emperor Tenmu. He was later named crown prince by the will of the Retired Emperor Shōmu, but was soon deposed.
First line, "aratashiki" (new), conveys the fresh mood of the New Year.
Second line, "toshi no hajime ni" (at the year's beginning), sets the New Year banquet.
Third line, "omou dochi" (friends of one mind), refers to the gathered company.
Fourth line, "imurete oreba" (as we gather together): "i" is a prefix and "muru" means to gather.
Fifth line, "ureshiku mo aru ka" (how glad it is), is hypermetric; "ka" is exclamatory.
- Author
- Prince Funado
- Source
- Manyoshu
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Ume no hana sakeru ga naka ni fufumeru wa koi ka komoreru yuki o matsu to ka
- Next Poem
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Ōmiya no uchi ni mo to ni mo mezurashiku fureru ōyuki na fumisone oshi