Shiokaze ni Ise no hamaogi fuseba mazu hosu shionami no aratamuru kana

潮風に伊勢の浜荻伏せばまづ
ほすしほ波のあらたむるかな

Roma-ji: Shiokaze ni Ise no hamaogi fuseba mazu hosu shionami no aratamuru kana
English Translation: When in the sea wind
the shore reeds of Ise bend
and lie low, at once
the waves of the briny tide
wash over and renew them.
Meaning: When the shore reeds of Ise bend low in the sea wind, the tidal waves at once wash over them and set them anew.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 999

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
When the shore reeds of Ise bend low in the sea wind, the tidal waves at once wash them anew, the poet says. The shore reeds of Ise are much sung in poetry. The phrase hosu shionami in the fourth line is of uncertain meaning, but the poem seems to picture waves washing over reeds bent by the wind.

First line, “shiokaze ni”: in the sea wind.
Second line, “Ise no hamaogi”: the reeds on the shores of Ise, a famed poetic image.
Third line, “fuseba mazu”: when they bend low, at once.
Fourth line, “hosu shionami no”: of uncertain meaning, apparently of the waves of the tide.
Fifth line, “aratamuru kana”: they renew them; kana is exclamatory.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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