No.6 A Winter Midnight in the Palace Court
8th or early 9th century. “Magpie (or Raven) Bridge” referred to a passage-way in the Imperial Palace grounds, but also in popular superstition to the Milky Way” (in the sky).
A Winter Midnight In The Palace Court
If the “Magpie Bridge,”–
Bridge by flight of magpies spanned,–
White with frost I see:–
With a deep-laid frost made white:–
Late, I know, has grown the night.
Chūnagon Yakamochi (Chūnagon Yakamochi)
Chūnagon is a title: “Imperial State Advisor of the Middle Rank.”
Kasasagi no
Wataseru hashi ni
Oku shimo no
Shiroki wo mireba
Yo zo fuke ni keru.
About this poetry
At Salty Dog Digital we’ve decided to gradually republish Clay MacCauley’s translation of Single Songs of a Hundred Poets – a collection of japanese poetry from the seventh through thirteenth centuries. Sixty four of these poems are the rewards in our game fourtex zen.
No.7 A Thought of Home
No.5 The Stag's Cry in Autumn