Tomoshi suru hogushi no matsu mo kaenaku ni shika me awasede akasu natsu no yo

照射する火串の松も替へなくに
鹿目合はせで明かす夏の夜

Roma-ji: Tomoshi suru hogushi no matsu mo kaenaku ni shika me awasede akasu natsu no yo
English Translation: In the hunt by torch,
before the pine brand in its rest
has been changed once,
without meeting a deer's eyes
the summer night has passed to dawn.
Meaning: The pine brand on the torch stand has not even been changed once, and the summer night has dawned without the hunter once meeting the eyes of a deer.
Commentary: Summer Poems 239

Headnote: "Hunting by torchlight"
This poem was composed on the topic of tomoshi, hunting by torchlight. On summer nights hunters lit torches to lure deer and shot at them when their eyes shone in the light. Before the pine torch on its stand has been changed even once, the night dawns without a single deer's eyes being met; the poem conveys the shortness of the summer night.
Me awasu, to meet eyes, can also mean to sleep, so the poem also suggests the hunter passing the night without a wink. Where 187 of this book overlaid the brief summer night on the tale of Urashima, this poem catches the same short night through the torchlight hunt.

First line, “tomoshi suru”: tomoshi is hunting deer on summer nights by luring them with torches.
Second line, “hogushi no matsu mo”: hogushi is the wooden stand that holds the torch, and matsu is the pine torch itself.
Third line, “kaenaku ni”: without even changing it, showing a night too short to burn out one torch.
Fourth line, “shika me awasede”: without the deer's eyes meeting the light, that is, without seeing a deer's eyes; me awasu can also mean to sleep, suggesting a sleepless night.
Fifth line, “akasu natsu no yo”: the poem ends on a noun, presenting the brief summer night that dawns in vain.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
Prev Poem: Hibari agaru ōno no chihara natsu kureba suzumu kokage o tazunete zo yuku
Next Poem: Natsu no yo wa shino no kotake no fushi chikami soyo ya hodo naku akuru narikeri