いかなれば同じ空なる月影の
秋しもことに照りまさるらむ
秋しもことに照りまさるらむ
- Roma-ji
-
Ika nareba onaji sora naru tsukikage no aki shimo koto ni terimasaruramu
- English Translation
-
For what reason
does the moonlight in the sky,
the very same sky,
in autumn above all seasons
shine with a brighter glow?
- Meaning
- Why is it that the moonlight in the very same sky shines so much brighter in autumn than at any other time?
- Commentary
-
Book Three Autumn Poems 95
Headnote: "Topic unknown"
The author is listed here as an unnumbered poet, but the Shikashu attributes the poem to the Minister of the Right, Minamoto no Masasada.
The moon hangs in the same sky all year, so why does it look so much brighter only in autumn? The poem praises the beauty of the autumn moon by asking for the reason, and shares this question with the next poem.
The first line, "ika nareba," asks "for what reason," answered by ramu in the last line. It is the same opening as 87 in this book.
The second line, "onaji sora naru," means "in the same sky" through all four seasons.
The third line, "tsukikage no," is the light of the moon, kage meaning light.
The fourth line, "aki shimo koto ni," means "in autumn especially," shimo being an emphatic particle.
The last line, "terimasaruramu," asks why it shines brighter. The next poem, 96, has the same last line, and the two form a pair asking about the brightness of the autumn moon.
- Source
- Shika Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Mizu kiyomi yadoreru aki no tsuki sae ya chiyo made kimi to sumamu to suramu
- Next Poem
-
Haru natsu wa sora ya wa kawaru aki no yo no tsuki shimo ikade terimasaruramu