Counselor Sadayori's "On the light of dawn" (Hyakunin Isshu #64)
by Frank Watson
Translation


By Counselor Sadayori (Fujiwara no Sadayori, 995-1045)


On the light of dawn—

Faintly, slowly

Through the fog and mist

From Uji River

The fishing stakes appear


Original Japanese
Pronunciation


権中納言定頼
GonChunagon Sadayori


朝ぼらけ
Asaborake
宇治の川ぎり
Uji no kawagiri
たえだえに
Tae-dae ni
あらはれわたる
Araware wataru
ぜぜの網代木
Zeze no ajirogi


Literal Notes


[Light of dawn / daybreak]

Uji ’s river [fog/mist/spray/duty/obligation]

Feebly/faint/bit-by-bit

[Appear/come into sight/are wholly/wash] [cross over/extend/span]

[Swallows/rapids/Zeze] ’s [net replace wood = fishing basket stakes]        


Ajiroji are stakes of bamboo with baskets attached, stuck into the river to catch fish. “Seze” means shallows or rapids whereas “zeze” is the name of the place where the Uji River flows out of Lake Biwa. Different texts use either reading for this poem.


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