Kokinshu 26
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Text
あをやぎの いとよりかくる 春しもぞ みだれて花の ほころびにける
Translation
Notes
- あをやぎの
- This is a shortening of あをきやぎ. The の is a subject marker, not a possessive for いと.
- よりかくる
- This creates a metaphor of the willow twisting its fronds atop the branches like thread. Using thread as an image for willow fronds is well established in Chinese poetry.
- 春しもぞ
- The role of the particles is somewhat disputed, but the しも seems to mark out spring in particular and the ぞ...ける is serves its usual function. 春 may play on 張る for clothing, although Katagiri disputes this.
- みだれて
- Although many older commentaries interpret this as the flowers blooming wildly, both Takeoka and Katagiri believe that it is too early in the season for that kind of poem. Instead, they both break after みだれて so that it's the threads of the willows that are chaotic. Katagiri also notes that the application of 乱 to growing willows is already found in Chinese poetry.
- ほころび
- The verb ほころぶ refers both to cloth stretching to the point of breaking, and also buds coming forth from branches.
Analysis
Other Sources
- 新撰和歌６１
- 古今和歌六帖４１６２・柳・遍照
- 和漢朗詠集１１０・貫之. Fourth line みだれて花は
- 貫之集(私家集大成III)１７
