Hyakunin Isshu #73

    On the upper slopes
of Takasago's mountains
    the cherries have bloomed.
O mists of the near foothills,
please do not rise in the way!

—8 July 2010

Original by Ôe no Masafusa, great-grandson of Akazome Emon (#59). Takasago could be the same place as in #34 or used generically in its literal meaning of "high dunes/hills"; because onoe ("above the slopes," sometimes used as a poeticism for "peak") implies something larger than a dune, I take it to be the place, which does indeed have mountains.


takasago no
onoe no sakura
sakinikeri
toyama no kasumi
tatazu mo aranan

---L.