Watatsumi mo yukige no mizu wa masarikeri ochi no shimajima miezu nariyuku - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

わたつみも雪げの水はまさりけり
をちの島々見えずなりゆく

Roma-ji: Watatsumi mo yukige no mizu wa masarikeri ochi no shimajima miezu nariyuku
English Translation: Even the great sea
swells with the waters of snow
melting, so I find;
the islands far off in the distance
fade gradually from sight.
Meaning: Even the sea, I find, swells with the water of melting snow: the distant islands are gradually disappearing from view.
Commentary: Book Seventeen Miscellaneous Autumn Poems 1152

Headnote: "When he made snow into the shapes of islands and watched them, and they gradually melted away"
The poet says that even the sea swells with the water of melting snow, for the distant islands are gradually disappearing. The headnote shows it was composed when he had made snow into the shapes of islands and was watching them as they gradually melted away. He playfully likens the melting snow islands to distant islands sinking as the sea rises with snowmelt.
The next poem, 1153, belongs to the same occasion.
The author, called "Nakatsukasa no Miko," is referred to by a title meaning a prince who served as Minister of Central Affairs. Both Prince Kaneakira and Prince Tomohira held that post, and there is no settled view as to which is meant.

First line, "watatsumi mo," means "even the sea."
Second line, "yukige no mizu wa," means "the water of melting snow."
Third line, "masarikeri," means "does swell, I find," with "keri" a sigh of realization. The poem breaks after this third line.
Fourth line, "ochi no shimajima," means "the distant islands," referring to the islands made of snow.
Final line, "miezu nariyuku," means "are fading from view."
Author: Nakatsukasa no Miko
Source: Shui Wakashu
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