KKS 39

Text

暗部山やまにてよめる

Read at Mount Kurabu

貫之

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.

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: