風に散る花橘に袖しめて
我が思ふ妹が手枕にせん
我が思ふ妹が手枕にせん
- Roma-ji
-
Kaze ni chiru hanatachibana ni sode shimete waga omou imo ga tamakura ni sen
- English Translation
-
Letting my sleeve take
the scent of orange blossoms
scattered by the wind,
I will make of it a pillow
for the one I love
- Meaning
- I will let my sleeve take the scent of the orange blossoms scattered by the wind, and make it a pillow for the one I love.
- Commentary
-
Book Three Summer Poems 172
Headnote: "Topic unknown"
The poet will let his sleeve absorb the scent of orange blossoms scattered by the wind and make that sleeve a pillow for the one he loves. Wishing to share the scent with his beloved by transferring it to his sleeve, he turns the old conceit of orange blossoms recalling the scented sleeves of a past love into a fragrance prepared for a lover yet to share his bed.
The author, "Fujiwara no Mototoshi," was the son of Minister of the Right Fujiwara no Toshiie. He was ranked alongside Minamoto no Toshiyori in Emperor Horikawa's poetry circle and was the teacher of Fujiwara no Shunzei, compiler of the Senzai Wakashū. His official career was undistinguished, ending at Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade.
First line, "kaze ni chiru": "scattered by the wind."
Second line, "hanatachibana ni": "with the scent of orange blossoms."
Third line, "sode shimete": "shimu" means to steep in scent. Where the preceding poem, 171, likened the orange scent to the scent of sleeves, this one transfers the scent to a sleeve.
Fourth line, "waga omou imo ga": "imo" is a man's affectionate word for his wife or beloved.
Fifth line, "tamakura ni sen": "tamakura" is an arm used as a pillow, and "n" is the volitional "mu," expressing the wish to lie with his beloved wrapped in the scent of his sleeve.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Mototoshi
- Source
- Senzai Wakashu
- Prev Poem
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Tada naranu hanatachibana no nioi kana yosouru sode wa tare to nakeredo
- Next Poem
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Ukigumo no isayou yoi no murasame ni oikaze shiruku niou tachibana