A poem from One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each (Hyakunin isshu

, 百人一首) by Fujiwara no Teika.

Translated by Peter MacMillan.

34. Fujiwara no Okikaze

Of those I loved, none are left.
Only the aged pine
of Takasago
has my years, but, alas,
he is not an old friend of mine.

Comments

Yohei ヨウヘイ

👏👏👏👏👏

2021.08.31 07:33
아키히로 明弘

This translation is brilliant. It it a poem about a loneliness of old age. Original poem “誰をかも　しる人にせむ　高砂の松もむかしの　友ならなくに” . A direct translation is “Who can be my friend?Even the pine of Takasago is not my old friend.” Less words give us room you can imagine. It creates beauty.

2021.08.31 01:30
田中社長

百人一首の話？！

2021.08.30 11:04
Shamus

@Apple Interesting. Thank you for this explanation. ✨

2021.08.29 04:56
Apple

Pine tree is metaphor here,it has symbolic significance: sincere, loyal, strength and strong...We also say: '福如东海长流水，寿比南山不老松' This is a good wishes to bless elderly for a long live.

2021.08.29 01:30
Kylie

🌻

2021.08.28 22:18
Shamus

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy my new reading of The Beggar by Mikhail Lermontov. 🙏 https://youtu.be/nRUh2i0SPVs

2021.08.28 21:08