Ama no hara sumeru keshiki wa nodoka nite hayaku mo tsuki no nishi e yuku kana - Senzai Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

天の原澄めるけしきはのどかにて
早くも月の西へ行くかな

Roma-ji: Ama no hara sumeru keshiki wa nodoka nite hayaku mo tsuki no nishi e yuku kana
English Translation: The plain of heaven
lies in such untroubled calm
with its clear expanse,
yet how quickly now the moon
moves along toward the west
Meaning: The clear expanse of the heavens seems so calm and unhurried, yet how quickly the moon moves on toward the west.
Commentary: Book Sixteen Miscellaneous Poems I 992

Headnote: "Composed when I wrote ten poems on the moon"
This poem was composed when he wrote ten poems on the moon. The clear sky looks calm, yet already the moon goes toward the west, he says. Though the sky seems leisurely and still, he notices the moon alone moving west sooner than expected, and expresses his regret at its passing through the contrast of calm and speed.
The author, "Kamo no Nariyasu," was a poet from a family of priests of the Kamo Shrine.
Following "tsuki katabukinu" in 990 of this book, this poem too sings of the moon moving west. And taking up "sumu tsuki" in the preceding poem, 991, it sings of "sumeru keshiki."

First line, "ama no hara": "the plain of heaven," the wide expanse of the sky.
Second line, "sumeru keshiki wa": "ru" is the attributive of the continuative "ri," "its clear appearance." It answers "sumu tsuki wa" in the third line of the preceding poem, 991.
Third line, "nodoka nite": "being calm and unhurried," contrasted with "hayaku mo" in the fourth line.
Fourth line, "hayaku mo tsuki no": "how soon the moon."
Fifth line, "nishi e yuku kana": "moves toward the western sky," with "kana" exclamatory. It shares the sinking moon with "tsuki katabukinu" in the fifth line of 990 of this book.
Author: Kamo no Nariyasu
Source: Senzai Wakashu
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