霞敷く春の潮路を見渡せば
緑を分くる沖つ白波
緑を分くる沖つ白波
- Roma-ji
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Kasumi shiku haru no shioji o miwataseba midori o wakuru okitsu shiranami
- English Translation
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Where haze lies spread
over the sea-paths of spring,
I gaze far across:
parting the green of the waters,
the white waves of the offing
- Meaning
- As I gaze over the spring sea-lanes where haze lies spread, I see the white waves of the open sea parting the green waters.
- Commentary
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Book One Spring Poems I 8
Headnote: "Composed as a poem on haze for a poetry contest at my house when I was Minister of the Right"
Composed on the topic "haze" for a poetry contest held at his residence while he was Minister of the Right, this poem presents a broad seascape: gazing over the hazy spring sea, the poet sees white waves in the offing cutting through the green water glimpsed beneath the haze. Against the dim, misty sea, green and white stand out vividly.
The author, "the Regent and Former Minister of the Right," is Kujō Kanezane, son of Chancellor Fujiwara no Tadamichi. After serving as Minister of the Right, he became Regent in 1186. He founded the Kujō house and is also known for his diary, Gyokuyō.
First line, "kasumi shiku": haze spread over everything as if laid across it.
Second line, "haru no shioji o": "shioji" is the path of the tides, the sea-lane.
Third line, "miwataseba": "as I gaze across." Where "miwataseba" in poem 1 looked over haze on a plain, this poem surveys haze over the sea, pairing field and sea.
Fourth line, "midori o wakuru": white waves dividing the green sea seen beneath the haze. "Wakuru" is attributive and modifies the last line.
Fifth line, "okitsu shiranami": "tsu" is an old particle meaning "of," so "the white waves of the offing." Ending on a noun impresses the contrast of green sea and white waves.
- Author
- Kujō Kanezane
- Source
- Senzai Wakashu
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