水清み宿れる秋の月さへや
千代まで君とすまむとすらむ
千代まで君とすまむとすらむ
- Roma-ji
-
Mizu kiyomi yadoreru aki no tsuki sae ya chiyo made kimi to sumamu to suramu
- English Translation
-
The water so clear,
the autumn moon dwelling there,
does even it, I wonder,
for a thousand years with you
mean to shine and dwell?
- Meaning
- The water is so clear that even the autumn moon reflected in it seems to intend to dwell here with you, shining clear, for a thousand years.
- Commentary
-
Book Three Autumn Poems 94
Headnote: "Composed on the topic "the moon above the water" on the fifteenth night of the eighth month at the residence of the Sanjō Chancellor"
The author's name is missing in the text, but according to the Shikashu attribution this poem is by Minamoto no Shitagō. It was composed on the topic "the moon above the water" on the fifteenth night of the eighth month at the residence of the Sanjō Chancellor, Fujiwara no Yoritada.
While depicting the full moon reflected in the pond, the poet celebrates the host's long life and prosperity, saying that even the moon will dwell with him for a thousand years. It suits a banquet with its spirit of felicitation, and with it the sequence of moon poems begins.
The first line, "mizu kiyomi," means "since the water is clear," with the suffix mi showing cause. It is the first poem of the moon sequence.
The second line, "yadoreru aki no," speaks of the moon dwelling in, that is, reflected on, the water.
The third line, "tsuki sae ya," means "even the moon," with ya marking the question answered by ramu.
The fourth line, "chiyo made kimi to," means "with you for a thousand years," a blessing for the host.
In the last line, "sumamu to suramu," sumu is a pivot word meaning both to dwell and to be clear, so the moon both lives with the host and shines bright.
- Author
- Minamoto no Shitagō
- Source
- Shika Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Ama no gawa kaeranu mizu o tanabata wa urayamashi to ya kesa wa miruramu
- Next Poem
-
Ika nareba onaji sora naru tsukikage no aki shimo koto ni terimasaruramu