Year
Translation
By Fujiwara no Mototoshi (1060-1142)
You made a pledge
With life like dew
Upon a plant:
Alas, another autumn
And this year too shall pass
Original Japanese | Pronunciation |
藤原基俊 | Fujiwara no Mototoshi |
契りをきし | Chigiri okishi |
させもが露を | |
命にて | Inochi ni te |
あはれことしの | Aware kotoshi no |
秋もいぬめり | Aki mo inumeri |
Literal Notes
Pledge [greatly/do/put/place/leave(behind)/get up/rise/occur]
[Moxa plant/mugwort/point/pledge/pierce/prick/insert/shine/tinged] dew
Mortal life
[Sorrow/grief/pity/Alas!/meet/encounter] this year ’s
Autumn also [about to pass]
This poem refers to a promise made and broken by the Regent to promote his son to a higher office. He is comparing the promise to dew on sasemo, a type of herbal plant similar to mugwort.