A Hundred Verses from Old Japan · 70 of 101
69. The Priest Nō-in: Nō-in Hōshi
69
THE PRIEST NŌ-IN
NŌ-IN HOSHI
Arashi fuku Mimuro no yama no Momiji-ba wa Tatsuta no kawa no Nishiki nari keri.
THE storms, which round Mount Mimuro Are wont to howl and scream, Have thickly scattered maple leaves Upon Tatsuta’s stream; Like red brocade they seem.
The poet’s lay name was Nagayasu Tachibana; he was the son of Motoyasu Tachibana, the Governor of the Province of Hizen. Mount Mimuro and the Tatsuta River are both in the Province of Yamato, not far from Nara. The picture is not very clear, but the river is plainly depicted, and maple leaves are scattered all around.