Poem 6, by Ōtomo no Yakamochi, from the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu

Poem 6, by Ōtomo no Yakamochi, from the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu (One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each)

Poem 6, in calligraphy in the hand of Abbot Genchin circa 1660 CE

Poem 6, in modern Japanese characters

Poem 6 transliteration into Roman alphabet

Kasasagi no
wataseru hashi ni
oku shimo no
shiroki wo mireba
yo zo fukenikeru



Poem 6, translated by Peter McMillan

How the night deepens.

As lovers part

a white ribbon of frost

is stretched along

the Bridge of Magpie Wings.

Source of the text (all versions listed above) - One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each: A Translation of the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, translated and edited by Peter McMillan.  New York: Columbia University Press, 2008, pages 8, 116, 156.

TJB: Good tidings. Whether it’s a literal frost-covered bridge separating lovers or, say, the Milky Way, the images are elegant in simplicity.