宮城野の小萩が原を行くほどは
鹿の音をさへわけて聞くかな
鹿の音をさへわけて聞くかな
- Roma-ji
-
Miyagino no kohagi ga hara o yuku hodo wa shika no ne o sae wakete kiku kana
- English Translation
-
On Miyagino
while I go across the moor
of little bush clover,
even the cries of the deer
I part as I listen
- Meaning
- While I make my way across the bush clover moor of Miyagino, I part not only the clover but even the cries of the deer on either side as I listen.
- Commentary
-
Book Five Autumn Poems II 316
Headnote: "Composed on the topic 'Deer Calling on Both Sides'"
Composed on the topic "Deer Calling on Both Sides," that is, deer heard on the left and the right. While making his way through the bush clover of Miyagino, the poet says, he parts not only the clover but even the deer's voices calling on either side. Joining in one word the act of parting the clover as he walks and the act of telling apart the voices on each side, he catches the topic deftly.
The author, "Kakuen Hōshi," was a monk of the cloistered-rule period, but little is known of his life.
First line, "Miyagino no": Miyagino is a famed place in Mutsu, known for its bush clover.
Second line, "kohagi ga hara o": "kohagi" is an elegant name for bush clover, the flower deemed the deer's mate. As with "hagiwara" in 306 of this book, clover and deer are paired.
Third line, "yuku hodo wa": "while going," the time spent crossing the clover field.
Fourth line, "shika no ne o sae": the additive "sae," "not only the clover but even the deer's voices."
Fifth line, "wakete kiku kana": "wakete" joins parting the clover and telling apart the voices on either side, and "kana" is exclamatory.
- Author
- Kakuen
- Source
- Senzai Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Minatogawa yobune kogiizuru oikaze ni shika no koe sae seto wataru nari
- Next Poem
-
Saoshika no tsuma yobu koe mo ikanare ya yūbe wa wakite kanashikaruran