You stood beneath a holy oak [Manyoshu Vol 1, No 9]
by Frank Watson
Emperor Nukata no Okimi

Broken silence
Beneath the Big Dipper—
My dear,
You stood at the roots
Of holy oaks.

Original Text

Modern Text

Pronunciation



額田王
額田王
Nukata no Okimi



莫囂圓隣之
莫囂円隣之
[unknown]
大相七兄爪謁氣
大相七兄爪謁気
[unknown]
吾瀬子之
我が背子が
Waga seko ga
射立為兼
い立たせりけむ
Itata serikemu
五可新何本
厳橿が本
Itsukashi ga moto


Translation Notes


A poem by the emperor

莫囂円隣之
Do-not noisy round neighboring of
[Silence has been broken]
大相七兄爪謁気
Big together seven big-brother claws audience feeling
[Stars are active]
我が背子が
My dear-husband
[My dear you were]
い立たせりけむ
Standing probably
(けむ＝might,probably)
厳橿が本
Stern oak base
[Under the holy tree]




All writings and translations are Copyright © by Frank Watson, also writing as "Blue Flute" (2011-2014).
Year: 
2013