浦近く立つ秋霧は藻塩焼く
煙とのみぞ見えわたりける
煙とのみぞ見えわたりける
- Roma-ji
-
Ura chikaku tatsu akigiri wa moshio yaku keburi to nomi zo miewatarikeru
- English Translation
-
Near the bay's shoreline
the autumn mist that rises
seems only to be
the smoke of seaweed burning
for salt, far as the eye can see
- Meaning
- The autumn mist rising near the bay looks, as far as the eye can see, like nothing but the smoke of seaweed burned for salt.
- Commentary
-
Book Six Autumn Poems II 273
Headnote: "At the poetry contest of the Empress's household in the Kanpyō era."
The poet says that the autumn mist rising near the bay looks like nothing but the smoke of seaweed burned for salt on the shore. Likening the seaside mist to the smoke of salt-making fires, it paints a scene of autumn on the beach.
According to the headnote, it was composed at the poetry contest held under Empress Dowager Hanshi, mother of Emperor Uda, in the Kanpyō era, known as the Kanpyō Ontoki Kisai no Miya Utaawase. Against the mountain mist of 271, the opening poem of this book, this poem sings of mist by the sea.
The poet is listed as "anonymous," and the composer's name has not come down to us.
The first line, "Ura chikaku," means "near the bay," showing a seaside scene.
The second line, "tatsu akigiri wa," means "the autumn mist that rises," taking up "akigiri no tachinuru" in 271, the opening poem of this book.
The third line, "moshio yaku," refers to burning seaweed soaked in seawater to make salt.
The fourth line, "keburi to nomi zo," means "as nothing but smoke," with "zo" an emphatic particle. The mist is likened to smoke.
The last line, "miewatarikeru," means "it looks so all across," and "zo" in the fourth line with the attributive "keru" forms a kakarimusubi pattern. It is the same last line as 271, the opening poem of this book.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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Hanami ni to idenishi mono o aki no no no kiri ni mayoite kyō wa kurashitsu
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Oru kara ni waga na wa tachinu ominaeshi iza onajiku wa hanabana ni mimu