秋山の清水は汲まじ濁りなば
宿れる月の曇りもぞする
宿れる月の曇りもぞする
- Roma-ji
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Akiyama no shimizu wa kumaji nigorinaba yadoreru tsuki no kumori mo zo suru
- English Translation
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On the autumn mountain
I will not draw from the spring,
for should it grow muddy,
the moon that dwells within it
might be clouded over too
- Meaning
- I will not draw water from the clear spring on the autumn mountain. If it were stirred up, the moon reflected in it might grow cloudy.
- Commentary
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Book Three Autumn Poems 105
Headnote: "Composed on the theme "the moon floating on mountain water""
The author is listed here as an unnumbered poet, but the Shikashu attributes the poem to Fujiwara no Tadakane. It was composed on the theme "the moon floating on mountain water."
To protect the beauty of the moon reflected in a mountain spring, the poet holds back from drawing water. The refined heart that cherishes the moon's image over quenching thirst is evident. Like 94 in this book, it depicts the moon dwelling in water.
The first line, "akiyama no," means "of the autumn mountain," giving the mountain water of the theme.
The second line, "shimizu wa kumaji," expresses negative resolve: "I will not draw from the spring." The poem pauses here.
The third line, "nigorinaba," is a supposition: "if it should become muddy."
The fourth line, "yadoreru tsuki no," means "the moon dwelling there," using the same expression as "the autumn moon dwelling" in 94 in this book.
The last line, "kumori mo zo suru," expresses the fear that it might cloud over, with mo zo resolved in the attributive form suru.
- Source
- Shika Wakashu
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