峰つづきにほふ桜をしるべにて
知らぬ山路にかかりぬるかな
知らぬ山路にかかりぬるかな
- Roma-ji
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Minetsuzuki niou sakura o shirube nite shiranu yamaji ni kakarinuru kana
- English Translation
-
From ridge to ridge on,
with the cherries glowing bright
as my only guide,
on a mountain path unknown
I have found myself at last
- Meaning
- Taking as my guide the cherries glowing along ridge after ridge, I have found myself on an unknown mountain path.
- Commentary
-
Book One Spring Poems 46
Led on by cherries blooming ridge after ridge, the poet finds he has wandered onto an unfamiliar mountain road. The joy of being led astray by blossoms shows through, and it resonates with poem 42 about searching the hills for flowers.
The author, Tadamichi, is Fujiwara no Tadamichi. A son of Fujiwara no Tadazane, he rose to Regent and Chancellor and was called the Hosshōji Regent. He also excelled in Chinese verse and calligraphy.
First line, 'minetsuzuki', describes ridges following one after another.
Second line, 'niou sakura o', means cherries in radiant bloom.
Third line, 'shirube nite', uses shirube, a guide, taking the cherries as signposts.
Fourth line, 'shiranu yamaji ni', is a mountain road one does not know.
Final line, 'kakarinuru kana', means I have come upon it, ending with the exclamatory kana.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Tadamichi
- Source
- Kinyo Wakashu
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