Year
Translation
By Emperor Sutoku (1119-1164)
A torrent abrupt
Is torn by rocks
And though it’s smashed
This broken brook
Shall meet again
Original Japanese | Pronunciation |
崇徳院御製 | Sutoku In Gyosei |
瀬をはやみ | Se wo hayami |
岩にせかるる | Iwa ni sekaruru |
滝川の | Takigawa no |
われても末に | Warete mo sue ni |
逢はむとぞ思ふ | Awan to zo omou |
Literal Notes
[Shallows/rapids/position/chance] [at once/immediately/quick see]
Rock/crag [blocked up/compete/torrent/rapids/continuously]
Rapids/cascade
[Break/smash/devided] [though/even if] [finally/after/following]
Meet/rendezvous do think/feel
“Gyosei” means a poem written by the emperor. Emperor Sutoku was on the losing side of the Hogen Rebellion and forced into exile afterward. In exile, he lived a monastic life, studying Buddhist scripture.