2023年4月 短歌
April 2023, Tanka
All rights reserved ©Rika Inami 稲美 里佳
Three pieces of tanka for Mt. Chokai in spring
/ 春の鳥海山に３首(1-3)
1-
夕さりの真朱（まそほ）にそむる清空は鳥海うつししづかに暮るる
clear sky
dyed in vermillion
in the evening
reflects Mt. Chokai
…setting in serenity
2-
霊峰につづく山々はだらなる雪を残して八重畳なはる
Sacred peak…
mountain ranges
in layers
leading along it
with mottled snow
3-
After reading “Hermit Life in Hinoyama” in “Hojoki” by Kamo no Chomei(1153 or 1155–1216) / 鴨長明『方丈記』日の山の閑居を読み詠う
About Kamo no Chomei and his book “Hojoki”, please click
Kamo no Chomei https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamo_no_Ch%C5%8Dmei
Hojoki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C5%8Dj%C5%8Dki
西方に霊峰のぞむ 観念のたより吾にも開きたるかな
A spiritual mountain
to the west of me…
Meditation
on enlightenment seems
to be open to me too
4-
πの日に五年の巡り回顧せむ はだらに塗(まみ)れ篶は萌え初む
on the day of Pi
I look back on my five years
round…
sprouting bamboo grasses
coming among remaining snow
5-
うらうらと和草(にこぐさ)見むと野にあそぶ春なほ浅く残雪を踏み
rambling in the field
hoping to see Nikogusa
sprouting softly
though spring is early
my steps on the lingering snow.
Note: “Nikogusa” appears in Manyoshu, the oldest poetry anthology in Japan.
It is said to be the soft grass beginning to sprout in spring, but it has no particular flower name or grass one.
6-
さまざまの縁(えにし)を経りて深まりて謎は解かれむ標(しるべ)は如(か)くに
through
the various encounters
the bond deepens
and enigma will be solved
thus, sign will be revealed
7-
春雨の降りてかなづる涙音やまずかなしき宇露の戦争
spring rain—
sounds of tears don’t stop
how sad is
Russian Aggression in Ukraine
without ceasefire
8-
On the occasion of visiting our family temple on the Vernal Equinox Day
/ 春の彼岸のお寺参りの際に
寺貼りし年忌の紙に亡祖父(そふ)を見む遺影に文に面影探る
finding my late grandpa
on the annual service notification
by the temple.
I see his image
in his portraits and letters
Note: My grandfather passed away before my birth. The photo is my grandfather’s letter to my father.
/ 祖父は私の誕生前に亡くなりました。写真は祖父の父宛の手紙です。
9-
ゆるゆると山よりくだる雪解水 彼岸の朝の碧潭に光(て)る
melting snow slowly
descending from mountains
sparkles
on the deep watery abyss
on the morning of Higan
Note: Higan is the day of Vernal Equinox Day.
10-
墓標裏 乙女椿のみ蕾の青々かがよふ彼岸の明けに
behind the graveyard
lovely buds of Otome camellias
are shining lushly
after the vernal equinox week
for Buddhists
Akita International Haiku Network 
❤ ❤ ❤