KKS 22

Text

「歌たてまつれ」とおほせられし時、詠みてたてまつる

When [the Emperor] said "Submit a poem," [Tsurayuki] read this and submitted it.

貫之

[[Ki no Tsurayuki]

春日野の若菜摘みにや白妙しろたへの袖ふりはへて人の行くらん

kasugano no
wakana tsumi ni ya
shirotae no
sode furi-hae-te
hito no yuku-ran

To pick young shoots
Are they off to Kasuga?
Of white fabric
The sleeves waving they march
The people are going.

"Submit a poem": This is Emperor Daigo's request; he is not named because the KKS was presented to him. The exact circumstance is not given. This may have been a screen painting poem, which were often done in response to imperial command, or perhaps a poem at a gathering or official occasion.

Of white fabric: shirotae no is a pillow word for "sleeve," or other clothing related words. It may also actually indicate a while color for the clothing.

Sleeves waving they march: This seems to be a play on sode furu (waving sleeves) and also furi-haete (making effort, going through trouble). A few scholars have suggested that the entire phrase "white sleeves" is simply a preface (jo) with no actual image in the poem, but most commentators allow it to be a "preface with meaning" (yūshin no jo), that is, a preface that also indicates the actual imagery in the poem.

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