Translation
Nijou consort’s “beginning of spring”
poem
poem
Spring begins
In the midst of
snow:
snow:
Perhaps now, at
last,
last,
The bush
warbler’s
warbler’s
Frozen tears will
melt.
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.
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.
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Japanese
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Pronunciation
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二条のきさき
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Nijou no Kisaki
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雪の内に
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Yuki no uchi ni
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春はきにけり
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Haru wa kinikeri
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うぐひすの
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Uguisu no
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こほれる涙
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Kooreru namida
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今やとくらむ
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Ima ya toku ran
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Translation Notes
Snow ’s midst/inside/within
in/at
in/at
Spring begins
Cuckoo/bush-warbler/Japanese-nightingale
’s
’s
Frozen/congealed
tears
tears
Now/now-at-last
melt/dissolve/untie/untangle/hide/virtue
suppose/perhaps
melt/dissolve/untie/untangle/hide/virtue
suppose/perhaps