Yamabe no Akahito's tanka, "At Tago Bay"
by Frank Watson
Yamabe no Akahito (700-736), was a court poet. This tanka is #4 in the classic Japanese anthology, One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each, written around 1237 AD.


My Translation


By Yamabe no Akahito


At Tago Bay

I’m hit by the sight of

The white cloth

On Fuji’s peak—

Snow is falling


Original Japanese


山部赤人


田子の浦に

うちいでて見れば

白妙の

富士の高嶺に

雪はふりつつ


Pronunciation


Google Translator


Yama-be no Aka-hito


Ta-go no ura ni

Uchi idete mireba

Shiro-tae no

Fuji no taka-ne ni

Yuki wa furitsutsu


Literal Translation


Tago’s Bay at

Hit come out see

White cloth’s

Fuji’s peak at

Snow falling

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