A Hundred Verses from Old Japan · 77 of 101

76. The Late Regent and Prime Minister, the Lay Priest of the Hōshō Temple: Hōsh

76

THE LATE REGENT AND PRIME MINISTER, THE LAY PRIEST OF THE HŌSHŌ TEMPLE

HŌSHŌ-JI NYŪDŌ SAKI NO KWAMBAKU DAIJŌDAIJIN

Wada no hara Kogi idete mireba Hisakata no Kumoi ni magau Okitsu shira nami.

WHEN rowing on the open sea, The waves, all capped with white, Roll onward, like the fleecy clouds With their resistless might; Truly a wondrous sight!

The real name of this poet was Tadamichi Fujiwara, mentioned in connexion with the previous verse, who retired from the world and entered the church. He was the father of the author of verse No. 95, and is supposed to have died in the year 1164, at the age of sixty-eight.

The 'pillow-word' hisakata, here used in connexion with the clouds, is referred to in the note to verse No. 33.