My dear, This grass Will not do— Let us sleep beneath The young pine Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 中皇命 中皇命 Nakatsu Sumera Mikoto 吾勢子波 我が背子は Waga Seko ha 借廬作良須 仮廬作らす Kariho tsukurasu 草無者 草なくは Kaya naku ha 小松下乃 小松が下の Komatsu ga shita no 草乎苅核 …
Read MoreNakatsu Sumera Mikoto’s “Tying the Roots”
Let’s tie the roots Together At Iwashiro Hill— Your life And my life too Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 中皇命 中皇命 Nakatsu Sumera Mikoto 君之齒母 君が代も Kimi ga yo mo 吾代毛所知哉 我が代も知るや Waga yo mo shiru-ya 磐代乃 岩代の Iwashiro no 岡之草根乎 岡の草根を Oka no kusane …
Read MoreDeep, Grass Field
Nakatsu Sumera Mikoto Related to the poet’s earlier poem about the emperor leaving to hunt in the field. Morning in Uji’s Vast meadow: The horses walk a line To step into the Deep, grass field. Original Text Modern Text Pronunciation 中皇命 中皇命 Nakatsu Sumera Mikoto …
Read MoreThe Emperor’s Cherry Birch Bow
Nakatsu Sumera Mikoto (died ~665 AD) The emperor is kind in the morning; in the evening he gathers us close. He has a favorite cherry birch bow: we hear its sound even from here. He might leave soon for morning hunting, or he might leave …
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