Naniwagata irie o meguru ashigamo no tamamo no fune ni ukine surashimo - Senzai Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

難波潟入り江を巡る葦鴨の
玉藻の船に浮き寝すらしも

Roma-ji: Naniwagata irie o meguru ashigamo no tamamo no fune ni ukine surashimo
English Translation: In Naniwa Bay
the reed ducks that circle round
the inlet's waters
seem to sleep afloat upon
a boat of jeweled seaweed
Meaning: The reed ducks circling the inlet of Naniwa Bay seem to be sleeping afloat, with the jeweled seaweed for a boat.
Commentary: Book Six Winter Poems 433

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed when he called for a hundred-poem sequence"
Composed on the topic of waterfowl for the Kyūan Hyakushu. The reed ducks circling the inlet of Naniwa Bay, the poet says, seem to be sleeping afloat with the seaweed for a boat. It is a gentle poem that likens ducks asleep on drifting seaweed to sleepers riding in a boat of weed.
The author, "Sakyō no Daibu Akisuke," was the son of Master of the Office of Palace Repairs Fujiwara no Akisue. He compiled the Shika Wakashū at the command of Retired Emperor Sutoku. He carried on the poetic tradition of the Rokujō Fujiwara house, and a poem of his is included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu.
The nine poems from 429 to 437 are poems on waterfowl. Mandarin ducks, wild ducks and other waterfowl were counted among the sights of the winter waterside. The preceding poem, 432, and this one are poems on waterfowl from the Kyūan Hyakushu.

First line, "Naniwagata": the shallow sea at Naniwa in Settsu Province, a poetic place thick with reeds. 428 of this book also sings of the reeds of Naniwa.
Second line, "irie o meguru": "swimming round the inlet."
Third line, "ashigamo no": "ashigamo" are ducks of the reedy waterside. 437 of this book also sings of "ashigamo."
Fourth line, "tamamo no fune ni": likening the seaweed to a boat. Like "tamamo no toko" in 431 of this book, it sings of waterfowl sleeping on weed.
Fifth line, "ukine surashimo": "rashi" infers on grounds, and "mo" is exclamatory, taking up the "ukine" of the preceding poem, 432.
Author: Fujiwara no Akisuke
Source: Senzai Wakashu
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