Fujiwara Takaiko's "The bush warbler's frozen tears" (Kokinshu #4)
by Frank Watson

Translation


Nijou consort’s “beginning of spring” poem


Spring begins

In the midst of snow:

Perhaps now, at last,

The bush warbler’s

Frozen tears will melt.




Commentary


Fujiwara Takaiko was the Consort of Emperor Seiwa. After an affair with the priest Zenyuu she was demoted, but after death, her title of Consort was restored. The poem paints a picture of the beginning of spring while the trees are still covered in snow. It poetically views this snow as the tears of the bush warblers, which fly away during the winter and return during the warmer weather, hence their “frozen tears” melting.


Japanese
Pronunciation


二条のきさき
Nijou no Kisaki


雪の内に
Yuki no uchi ni
春はきにけり
Haru wa kinikeri
うぐひすの
Uguisu no
こほれる涙
Kooreru namida
今やとくらむ

Ima ya toku ran


Translation Notes


Snow ’s midst/inside/within in/at

Spring begins

Cuckoo/bush-warbler/Japanese-nightingale ’s

Frozen/congealed tears

Now/now-at-last  melt/dissolve/untie/untangle/hide/virtue suppose/perhaps



All writings and translations are Copyright © by Frank Watson, also writing as "Blue Flute" (2011-2014).
Year: 
2012