いつしかと春のしるしに立つものは
あしたの原の霞なりけり
あしたの原の霞なりけり
- Roma-ji
-
Itsushika to haru no shirushi ni tatsu mono wa ashita no hara no kasumi nari keri
- English Translation
-
So soon already
as the token of the spring
the thing that rises
on the plain of Ashita
is the haze, I now perceive
- Meaning
- So soon already, the thing that rises as the token of spring is the haze over the Plain of Ashita, the plain of morning.
- Commentary
-
Book One Spring Poems 6
Seeing haze rise over the Plain of Ashita on the first morning of spring, the poet realizes that this is the true sign of the season. The key device is the overlap of the place name Ashita with the morning of spring's arrival.
The author, Nakamasa, is Minamoto no Nakamasa. A son of Minamoto no Yoritsuna and the father of Minamoto no Yorimasa, he was a warrior who also made his name as a poet.
First line, 'itsushika to', means already, the same opening as poem 3.
Second line, 'haru no shirushi ni', is the mark that shows spring has come.
Third line, 'tatsu mono wa', refers to haze rising while also echoing spring's rising, binding the haze to the new season.
Fourth line, 'ashita no hara no', is a famous place in Yamato; the place name Ashita is a pivot word that also means the morning of spring's arrival.
Final line, 'kasumi nari keri', uses keri for the exclamation of discovery, the satisfied realization that the sign of spring is the haze.
- Author
- Minamoto no Nakamasa
- Source
- Kinyo Wakashu
- Prev Poem
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Haru no kuru yo no ma no kaze no ikanareba kesa fuku ni shimo kōri tokuramu
- Next Poem
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Aratama no toshi no hajime ni furishikeba hatsuyuki to koso iubekari kere