五月雨に濡れ濡れ引かむあやめ草
沼の石垣浪もこそ越せ
沼の石垣浪もこそ越せ
- Roma-ji
-
Samidare ni nurenure hikamu ayamegusa numa no iwagaki nami mo koso kose
- English Translation
-
In the summer rains,
though drenched, I'll pull the iris
from the marshy ground,
lest the waves should overflow
the stone walls of the marsh
- Meaning
- Though drenched by the early summer rain, I will pull the irises, lest the waves rise over the stone walls of the marsh and carry them away.
- Commentary
-
Book Three Summer Poems 169
Headnote: "Composed as a poem on irises"
Composed on the topic of "irises." In the early summer rain, the poet resolves to pull the irises even though he will be soaked, for if he delays, the swollen marsh may send its waves over the stone walls and wash them away. Pairing two seasonal images, the summer rains and the irises, it voices worry about the rising water with the construction "mo koso."
The author, "Regent and Former Minister of the Right," is Kujō Kanezane, son of Regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi, who rose through Minister of the Right to Regent. He was Regent at the time the Senzai Wakashū was compiled and left the diary Gyokuyō.
First line, "samidare ni": "in the long rains of the Fifth Month." From 177 of this book onward, poems on the summer rains follow.
Second line, "nurenure hikamu": "nurenure" means "even while getting soaked," and "mu" expresses will. The poem pauses here.
Third line, "ayamegusa": the irises to be pulled. Where the preceding poem, 168, asked people not to pull them all, this one resolves to pull them even in the rain, treating the same act from the opposite side.
Fourth line, "numa no iwagaki": a wall of piled stones along the edge of the marsh.
Fifth line, "nami mo koso kose": "mo koso" expresses apprehension and closes with the realized form "kose": "the waves might cross over."
- Author
- Kujō Kanezane
- Source
- Senzai Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Miyakobito hiki na tsukushi so ayamegusa tabine no toko no makura bakari wa
- Next Poem
-
Noki chikaku kyō shimo kinaku hototogisu ne o ya ayame ni soete fukuran