Mezurashi na asakurayama no kumoi yori shitai idetaru akaboshi no kage

珍しな朝倉山の雲居より
慕ひ出でたる明星の影

Roma-ji: Mezurashi na asakurayama no kumoi yori shitai idetaru akaboshi no kage
English Translation: How wondrous it is!
From the clouds above the peak
of Asakura,
yearning, it comes shining forth—
the light of the morning star.
Meaning: How wondrous—the light of the morning star, rising as if in longing from the sky over Mount Asakura.
Commentary: One Hundred Poems 1523

Headnote: "Ten Poems on the Gods: Two Poems on Kagura"
The first of the ten poems on the gods, and the first of two on kagura. Wondrous is the light of the morning star, coming forth as if in longing from the sky over Mount Asakura.
In kagura performances at court and elsewhere, sacred songs were sung through the night, and pieces such as "Asakura" and "Akaboshi" were sung toward dawn. The poem weaves in these titles, and seems to depict the morning star appearing at a dawn kagura.

First line, “mezurashi na”: na is an exclamatory particle, "how wondrous"; the poem breaks here.
Second line, “asakurayama no”: a mountain name evoking the kagura song "Asakura."
Third line, “kumoi yori”: from the sky.
Fourth line, “shitai idetaru”: coming forth as if in longing.
Fifth line, “akaboshi no kage”: akaboshi is Venus shining at dawn, also evoking the kagura song "Akaboshi"; ending on a noun.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
Prev Poem: Yo no naka ni naku naru hito o kiku tabi ni omoi wa shiru o oroka naru mi ni
Next Poem: Nagori ika ni kaesugaesu mo oshikarashi sonokoma ni tatsu kagura toneri wa