Otagaki Rengetsu (1791～1875)

Last | Poems 781～810 (of 951) | Next

781 NotesThe title reads: “I composed this when Tachibana no Akemi passed away.” Tachibana no Akemi (1812~1868) was a waka poet from Koshi (越) an area comprised of lands in present-day Ishikawa, Toyama, Niigata, Fukui, Yamagata prefectures. Precisely, he was born in what was then the Echizen domain (Echizen no kuni / 越前国), in present-day Fukui prefecture (福井県). In 1994, when the present Emperor (Kinjou Tennou (今上天皇) and Empress visited America, President Clinton a speech referring to one of Akemi's poems: What please me / is waking up / and seeing a flower / which had not been there / until the day before / blooming. (tanoshimi wa / asa oki ide te / kinou made / nakari shi hana no / sake ru miru toki. / たのしみは / あさおきいでて / きのふまで / なかりしはなの / さけるみるとき).	From Koshiji shining in four directions an open treasure box... how sad that Mister Akemi lives no longer.	越路より四方にひかりし玉手筥あけみのうしのなきぞかなしき	Koshiji yori yomo ni hikari shi tamatebako akemi no ushi no naki zo kanashiki.
こしちよりよもにひかりしたまてはこあけみのうしのなきそかなしきこしじよりよもにひかりしたまてばこあけみのうしのなきぞかなしき
782 NotesThe prologue reads: “For the 200 anniversary of Priest Souzan's death,” so Rengetsu must have composed this in 1868. Souzan (草山, 1623-1668) was famous for composing Chinese poems. In this poem Rengetsu likens Souzan to the moon.	Reflecting on it my sleeves become wet... here for an moment now hidden in the clouds― the moon of olden days.	しのぶれば袖こそぬるれかりそめに雲がくれにし月のむかしを	Shinobure ba sode koso nurure karisome ni kumogakure ni shi tsuki no mukashi wo.
しのふれはそてこそぬるれかりそめにくもかくれにしつきのむかしをしのぶればそでこそぬるれかりそめにくもがくれにしつきのむかしを
783 NotesThe prologue reads: “For the Seventh Anniversary of [the Passing of] Priest Honnouji (本能寺), after drawing the title “Buddhism in Early Spring.” Honnouji is a sobriquet of a priest, most likely the abbott, of Honnou Temple, where Oda Nobunaga, the 16th c. military hegemon, who began the process of unifying Japan, died in a fire set by the traitorous forces of his general Akechi Matsuhide in 1582. It was rebuilt in 1592 in central Kyoto where it stands today. “Drawing a title” refers to a ritual called Utakai (歌会), observed during some wakes, in which those gathered compose poems in honor of the deceased, deciding which title each participant would use by drawing lots. The robes of mourners are black or of muted color. The Buddha's flowers refer to both physical blossoms, part of the natural world that the Buddha provides, and to his words, which blossom like flowers in the heart.	The springs of seven years now in the past... the Buddha's flowers begin to open and the warblers sing.	七とせの春や昔とのりの花ひもどきそめてうぐひすの鳴く	Nanatose no haru ya mukashi to nori no hana himodoki some te uguisu no naku.
ななとせのはるやむかしとのりのはなひもときそめてうくひすのなくななとせのはるやむかしとのりのはなひもどきそめてうぐいすのなく
784 NotesThe prologue reads: “When Ichii Shizuko (一井しづ子) died...”	Although together we enjoyed cherry blossoms and autumn leaves... without saying “Shall we?” you have gone on alone.	うちつれて花ももみぢも見しものをいざともいはでひとりいにけん	Uchi tsure te hana mo momiji mo mishi mono wo iza to mo iwa de hitori ini ken.
うちつれてはなももみちもみしものをいさともいはてひとりいにけんうちつれてはなももみじもみしものをいざともいわでひとりいにけん
785 Notes	Unlike this mounted autumn leaf her face and figure so familiar— things I ever long for...	なれなれてみしおもかげは紅葉のうちつけならずこひしきものを	Narenare te mi shi omokage wa momijiba no uchitsuke nara zu koishiki mono wo.
なれなれてみしおもかけはもみちはのうちつけならすこひしきものをなれなれてみしおもかげはもみじばのうちつけならずこいしきものを
786 NotesThis poem's title, from The Complete Works of Otagaki Rengetsu (1927) is “An Autumn Leaf in a Garden” and was composed for Ichii Shizuko (一井しづ子).	I would like to make myself an autumn leaf in the garden which the wind blows about coming to and telling you the words from today's offering.	風さそふ庭のもみぢとみをなしてつげばやゆきてけふの手向を	Kaze sasou niwa no momiji to mi wo nashi te tsuge baya yuki te kyou no tamuke wo.
かせさそふにはのもみちとみをなしてつけはやゆきてけふのたむけをかぜさそうにわのもみじとみをなしてつげばやゆきてきょうのたむけを
787 NotesThe title is: “Autumn Leaves in a Garden.” This poem was composed in honor of Ichinoi Shizuko and addresses her departed spirit.	In familiar fashion are you mixing the maple leaves in my garden into a Chinese brocade then adding them your gorgeous skirt?	なれなれに庭のもみぢのからにしきたちまじりてやたまもますらん	Narenare ni niwa no momiji no karanishiki tachi majiri te ya tamamo masu ran.
なれなれににはのもみちのからにしきたちましりてやたまもますらんなれなれににわのもみじのからにしきたちまじりてやたまもますらん
788 NotesThis poem was also for Ichii Shizuko (一井しづ子).	The autumn leaves we saw together have fallen... on my sleeves winter rain is all that remains.	ともにみし紅葉はちりて袖のうへにしぐれのみこそ猶のこりけれ	Tomo ni mi shi momiji wa chiri te sode no ue ni shigure nomi koso nao nokori kere.
ともにみしもみちはちりてそてのうへにしくれのみこそなほのこりけれともにみしもみじはちりてそでのうえにしぐれのみこそなおのこりけれ
789 Notes	“Plunk, plunk!” falling tears like hailstones— emotions breaking on my sleeves...	はらはらと落るなみだの玉あられおもひくだくる袖のうへかな	Harahara to otsuru namida no tamaarare omoi kudakuru sode no ue kana.
はらはらとおつるなみたのたまあられおもひくたくるそてのうへかなはらはらとおつるなみだのたまあられおもいくだくるそでのうえかな
790 NotesThe prologue reads: “For the way, I relied on her as a great teacher, so I wish to hear her lessons again, and...” This poem was also composed in honor of Ichinoi Shizuko. “The way” likely refers to "the way of words (poetry)" which Rengetsu referred to in other poems. “Her dream” (maboroshi / 幻) refers to her teacher's afterlife.	Wishing for a letter from her dream and to know the whereabouts of the dead one's soul.	まぼろしのたよりもがもななき人のたまのありかのきかまほしきを	Maboroshi no tayori moga mo na naki hito no tama no arika no kika mahoshiki wo.
まほろしのたよりもかもななきひとのたまのありかのきかまほしきをまぼろしのたよりもがもななきひとのたまのありかのきかまほしきを
791 NotesThe prologue reads: “Remembering that seven days have passed...” This poem was also composed in honor of Ichinoi Shizuko (1758~1851).	I do not know if tomorrow my body will hold up yet without you for these seven days I have somehow lived on...	あすしらぬ身にはあれども君なくて七日ばかりはおくれつる哉	Asu shira nu mi ni wa are domo kimi naku te nanoka bakari wa okure tsuru kana.
あすしらぬみにはあれともきみなくてなのかはかりはおくれつるかなあすしらぬみにはあれどもきみなくてなのかばかりはおくれつるかな
792 NotesThe prologue reads: “Remembering that 7 days have passed...” This poem was also composed in honor of Ichinoi Shizuko (1758~1851).	I relied on being in the same city and did not visit her... alas, too early we have torn our worlds asunder...	とはねどもおなじ都とたのみしをはかなく世をもへだてつる哉	Towa ne domo onaji miyako to tanomi shi wo hakanaku yo wo mo hedate tsuru kana.
とはねともおなしみやことたのみしをはかなくよをもへたてつるかなとわねどもおなじみやことたのみしをはかなくよをもへだてつるかな
793 NotesThe prologue reads: “For the 13th anniversary of [the passing of] Mr. Tomioka's father.” By Mr. Tomioka, Rengetsu means Tomioka Tessai. Deutzias blossom and shed once a year.	You died and I felt the melancholy of the world... while deutzias have fallen not just ten times but three more ah, I have outlived you...	君なくて世をうのはなも十あまりみたびちるまでおくれつる哉	Kimi naku te yo wo unohana mo too amari mitabi chiru made okure tsuru kana.
きみなくてよをうのはなもとをあまりみたひちるまておくれつるかなきみなくてよをうのはなもとおあまりみたびちるまでおくれつるかな
794 NotesThe prologue reads: “When I heard that Mr. Tomioka would offer prayers for his father.”	His departed soul also sees and feels pleased... your offering of sweet-smelling blossoms of tangerine.	なきかげもうれしとみらん橘の花かぐはしき君が手向を	Naki kage mo ureshi to mi ran tachibana no hana kaguwashiki kimi ga tamuke wo.
なきかけもうれしとみらんたちはなのはなかくはしききみかたむけをなきかげもうれしとみらんたちばなのはなかぐわしききみがたむけを
795 NotesThe prologue reads: “Hearing that the girl whom Soshin brought up with great love, like a jewel in his hand, has suddenly died, I can imagine how he feels and cannot stop my tears.”	Oh, how wet have you made your sleeves? what disappeared so fleetingly from your hands— white drops of dew.	いかばかりそでぬらすらん君がてにきえてはかなき露のしら玉	Ikabakari sode nurasu ran kimi ga te ni kie te hakanaki tsuyu no shiratama.
いかはかりそてぬらすらんきみかてにきえてはかなきつゆのしらたまいかばかりそでぬらすらんきみがてにきえてはかなきつゆのしらたま
796 NotesThe prologue reads: “The Nun Zuigyoku (瑞玉), who lived in Ichinomiya (一宮) in the Owari domain (Owari no kuni / 尾張の国), died and I received a Japanese cushion. This reverses the natural order [of parents passing before their children], so I can't stop my tears and [made this poem]...” The Japanese cushion is the memento referred to in the poem. Both prologue and poem are from a letter Rengetsu sent to Zuigyoku's mother. Katami Bay (Katami no Ura / 形見浦) is located in what was once the Iyonokuni(伊予国) domain, present day Wakayama Prefecture (和歌山県).	The memento of one departed... on Katami Bay the autumn wind pierces me with cold... ah, falling tears upon my sleeves...	なき人のかたみのうらの秋の風みにしむそでにちるなみだかな	Naki hito no Katami no ura no aki no kaze mi ni shimu sode ni chiru namida kana.
なきひとのかたみのうらのあきのかせみにしむそてにちるなみたかななきひとのかたみのうらのあきのかぜみにしむそでにちるなみだかな
797 NotesThe prologue from the Collected Works of Otagaki Rengetsu (1870) reads: “When I see a wicker hat, a small stole (kesa / 袈裟), a grey unlined clothing and lined clothing, which still remain as what they used to be, and which she made for me herself, I remember many things about those, and I miss her so much still now, and... (so, I made this poem).” Rengetsu composed this poem (and the preceding one) on the occasion of the nun Zuigyoku's passing.	“She was like this, she was like that...” thinking back on many such things... ah, wet sleeves...	かくありしとありしぞやとかずかずにおもひかへしてぬるるそで哉	Kaku ari shi to ari shi zo ya to kazukazu ni omoi kaeshi te nururu sode kana.
かくありしとありしそやとかすかすにおもひかへしてぬるるそてかなかくありしとありしぞやとかずかずにおもいかえしてぬるるそでかな
798 NotesThe prologue reads: “I offer [this poem] to the soul [who just passed].”	Hearing the dew had disappeared before the autumn willows began to shed... how sad I feel.	ちりそむる秋の柳にさきだちてきえにしつゆときくぞかなしき	Chiri somuru aki no yanagi ni sakidachi te kie ni shi tsuyu to kiku zo kanashiki.
ちりそむるあきのやなきにさきたちてきえにしつゆときくそかなしきちりそむるあきのやなぎにさきだちてきえにしつゆときくぞかなしき
799 NotesThe prologue reads: I offer [this] for the [departed] soul. we know from one of Rengetsu's letters that this poem was also for Zuigyoku. The last time Rengetsu had seen Zuigoku, she had seemed a little sick. Rengetsu did not believe it would be fatal, so she was surprised to hear that Zuigyoku had passed away.	Had I known she was fleeting as dew before she disappeared at least once I could have visited her.	はかなさを露としりせばきえぬまにいかでひとたびとふべかりしを	Hakanasa wo tsuyu to shiri se ba kie nu ma ni ikade hitotabi tou bekari shi wo.
はかなさをつゆとしりせはきえぬまにいかてひとたひとふへかりしをはかなさをつゆとしりせばきえぬまにいかでひとたびとうべかりしを
800 Notes	O lotus blossom: open almost fully then wait— this old one shall soon come to meet you.	はなはちすなかばわかちてまてしばし老はほどなくゆきてあはまし	Hanahachisu nakaba wakachi te mate shibashi oi wa hodonaku yuki te awa mashi.
はなはちすなかはわかちてまてしはしおいはほとなくゆきてあはましはなはちすなかばわかちてまてしばしおいはほどなくゆきてあわまし
801 NotesShinobu no surigoromo (robes dyed with fern / 信夫の摺衣) is a set phrase containing a double entendre used extensively in the history of waka. Shinobu no Sugagomono (sedge robes dyed with ferm / 信夫の菅衣) appears to be a mistake in Rengetsu's brushwork, Soudou Murakami's transcription (editor of the 1927 anthology in which the poem first appears) or, most likely, the carving of the wood blocks used in printing that volume. Hiragana “り” (“ri” from surigoromo) and “か” (“ka” from sugagoromo) are so similar in the cursive Japanese of the period that people often mistook them for one another. Since Rengetsu occasionally ignored some of the vocabulary and conventions of waka and since there was a kind of primitive snow coat woven with sedge (mino / 菅の蓑), it is possible, though unlikely, that this was an intentional variation. In that case, the third line would read: “ah, robes dyed with sedge...”	Recalling the days of seven years ago... ah, robes dyed with fern... trickling from their sleeves— this morning's white dew.	七とせのむかししのぶのすがごろもたもとにあまるけさのしら露	Nanatose no mukashi shinobu no sugagoromo tamoto ni amaru kesa no shiratsuyu.
ななとせのむかししのふのすかころもたもとにあまるけさのしらつゆななとせのむかししのぶのすがごろもたもとにあまるけさのしらつゆ
802 NotesThe prologue reads: “I heard that someone had died and [I sent this] to the son.”	I hear you laid your father upon reeds in a winter-withered meadow and turned him into smoke... is that true?	冬がれの野邊のあさぢのうへにおきてけぶりにしつと聞はまことか	Fuyugare no nobe no asaji no ue ni oki te keburi ni shi tsu to kiku wa makoto ka.
ふゆかれののへのあさちのうへにおきてけふりにしつときくはまことかふゆがれののべのあさじのうえにおきてけぶりにしつときくはまことか
803 NotesThe prologue reads: “For someone in Nara”. This poem is based on “the field keeper's mirror” (nomori no kagami / 野守の鏡), a term derived from a Japanese legend. An emperor, sometimes named as Tenji / 天智 (626~672), went hunting with his sparrow hawk. Having lost sight of his bird, the emperor asked the keeper of the field where it had gone, to which the the keeper answered: “In the pond.” Looking in, the emperor was indeed able to see the reflected figure of his hawk.	I shall go and look into the mirror of the field keeper of Kasugano hoping the figure of one from the past shall be reflected.	春日野の野守のかがみゆきてみんむかしの人のかげやうつると	Kasugano no nomori no kagami yuki te mi n mukashi no hito no kage ya utsuru to.
かすかのののもりのかかみゆきてみんむかしのひとのかけやうつるとかすがのののもりのかがみゆきてみんむかしのひとのかげやうつると
804 Notes	Fleetingly they disappeared I hear... chrysanthemum dew forming into drops upon my sleeves...	はかなくて消ぬときくの露はわが袖の雫となりにける哉	Hakanaku te kie nu to kiku no tsuyu wa wa ga sode no shizuku to nari ni keru kana.
はかなくてきえぬときくのつゆはわかそてのしつくとなりにけるかなはかなくてきえぬときくのつゆはわがそでのしずくとなりにけるかな
805 NotesThe prologue reads: “When I visited [my parents] grave.”	When yearning for my dear old parents at their grave, hopelessly all I can do is sob.	たらちねの親のこひしきをりをりははかにはかなきねをのみぞなく	Tarachine no oya no koishiki oriori wa haka ni hakanaki ne wo nomi zo naku.
たらちねのおやのこひしきをりをりははかにはかなきねをのみそなくたらちねのおやのこいしきおりおりははかにはかなきねをのみぞなく
806 NotesThe prologue reads: “I composed this [poem] when my husband died.”	The tip of smoke which once rose has disappeared and now I feel neither shall my days last long...	たちのぼるけぶりの末もかきくれてすゑもすゑなきここちこそすれ	Tachi noboru keburi no sue mo kaki kure te sue mo sue naki kokochi koso sure.
たちのほるけふりのすゑもかきくれてすゑもすゑなきここちこそすれたちのぼるけぶりのすえもかきくれてすえもすえなきここちこそすれ
807 NotesThe prologue reads: “I composed [this poem] when my husband died.”	Of the cherry blossoms we saw together, no trace... on a summer mountain standing beneath a tree of grief how sad I feel.	ともに見しさくらは跡もなつやまのなげきのもとに立つぞかなしき	Tomo ni mi shi sakura wa ato mo natsuyama no nageki no moto ni tatsu zo kanashiki.
ともにみしさくらはあともなつやまのなけきのもとにたつそかなしきともにみしさくらはあともなつやまのなげきのもとにたつぞかなしき
808 NotesThe title is: “Summer Rain on a Mountain” from The Complete Works of Otagaki Rengetsu (1927), while the prologue reads: “On the first seventh day since my husband died...” Rengetsu is speaking of Japanese Buddhist observances, prescribed at certain intervals after a family member's death. She contrasts the first seventh day (the first such observance) with the seventh seventh (49th) day (the second such observance).	Darkening the world are what falls my tears? on the mountain where I saw the dead one off— the time of summer rains.	かきくらしふるは涙かなき人をおくりし山のさみだれのころ	Kaki kurashi furu wa namida ka naki hito wo okuri shi yama no samidare no koro.
かきくらしふるはなみたかなきひとをおくりしひとのさみたれのころかきくらしふるはなみだかなきひとをおくりしやまのさみだれのころ
809 NotesThe prologue reads: “I sent [this poem] to one who [this year] enters “Uke” [a personal auspicious phase seven years].” Uke is a period of seven lucky years based on the (Onmyoudou) 陰陽道), a kind of divination derived from Taoism. Crucian carp (funa / 鮒 / Carassius spp.) spawn many eggs at once. Rengetsu is congratulating someone whose luck she expects to be as abundant as the eggs of a crucian carp.	From this year entering your lucky spell... you shall pile up gold and silver plentifully as young carp in an inlet.	ことしより有卦に入江のふなの子のかずほどつまんこがねしろがね	Kotoshi yori uke ni irie no funa no ko no kazu hodo tsuma n kogane shirogane.
ことしよりうけにいりえのふなのこのかすほとつまんこかねしろかねことしよりうけにいりえのふなのこのかずほどつまんこがねしろがね
810 NotesThe prologue reads: “To celebrate that Mr. Nishida has two boys...”	Did you search a beach pure as your heart to find these cylindric jewels?	ま心の清きなぎさをあさりてやこのすが玉はひろひえつらん	Magokoro no kiyoki nagisa wo asari te ya ko no sugatama wa hiroi e tsu ran.
まこころのきよきなきさをあさりてやこのすかたまはひろひえつらんまごころのきよきなぎさをあさりてやこのすがたまはひろいえつらん

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