KKS 39

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Text

暗部山やまにてよめる

Read at Mount Kurabu

貫之

Ki no Tsurayuki

梅の花匂ふ春べは暗部山闇に越れどしるくぞありける

mume no hana niou harube wa kurabuyama yami ni koyure-do shiruku zo ari-keru

In the time of spring With fragrant plum flowers Though we cross over The darkness of Mount Kurabu It is still obvious.

Notes

Mount Kurabu

The exact location is unknown, with a number of possibilities offered in both ancient and modern sources. The main function in this poem is to play on the word kurashi ("dark").

Fragrant

The word niou can refer either to the brilliance of blossoms or their scent. Which meaning is intended in any particular poem can often be difficult to tell (possibly both meanings are meant). Almost everyone who provides a comment on this poem says it means "scent" here, with Takeoka offering a detailed analysis of Tsurayuki’s own use of the term.

Other sources:

• Shinsen waka

Analysis

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