夏の夜の月待つほどの手すさびに
岩もる清水いく結びしつ
岩もる清水いく結びしつ
- Roma-ji
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Natsu no yo no tsuki matsu hodo no tesusabi ni iwa moru shimizu iku musubi shitsu
- English Translation
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On a summer night,
waiting for the moon to rise,
to pass the idle time,
of the clear spring through the rocks
how many handfuls have I scooped
- Meaning
- On a summer night, to while away the time waiting for the moon, how many times have I cupped my hands in the clear spring trickling from the rocks?
- Commentary
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Book Two Summer Poems 154
On a summer night, to pass the idle time while waiting for the moon, the poet cups his hands again and again in clear water trickling from the rocks. The length of the wait for the moon and the coolness of the spring are portrayed through the act of scooping water.
The poem's ingenuity lies in measuring the night of waiting by the number of handfuls. Where poem 152 sings of the summer night that ends as soon as the moon has risen, this poem sings of the time spent waiting for it to rise.
The author, Mototoshi, is Fujiwara no Mototoshi. A son of the Minister of the Right Fujiwara no Toshiie, he rose no higher than Junior Fifth Rank, Upper Grade, as Assistant Captain of the Left Gate Guards. Known as the teacher of Fujiwara no Shunzei, he stood with Minamoto no Toshiyori as a leading figure of the poetic world, and one of his poems appears in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu.
First line, 'natsu no yo no', gives the season and hour.
Second line, 'tsuki matsu hodo no', means while waiting for the moon.
Third line, 'tesusabi ni', means as a pastime for the hands, to relieve idleness.
Fourth line, 'iwa moru shimizu', is clear water seeping from between the rocks, a motif of summer coolness.
Final line, 'iku musubi shitsu', uses musubu, to scoop water in cupped hands: how many times have I scooped it. Tsu is the perfective auxiliary.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Mototoshi
- Source
- Kinyo Wakashu
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