Gojuuon by Kitahara Hakushu

Wednesday 27 December 2023 By Studio KonKon

五十音 北原白秋

水馬赤いな。ア、イ、ウ、エ、オ。

めんぼ な アイウエオ

The pond skater is red. A, I, U, E, O.

浮藻に小蝦もおよいでる。

きもに こびも でる

The small shrimp swims in the floating algae.

柿の木、栗の木。カ、キ、ク、ケ、コ。

かき りの カキクケコ

Persimmon tree, chestnut tree. Ka, Ki, Ku, Ke, Ko.

啄木鳥こつこつ、枯れけやき。

つつ つ 

The woodpecker pecks diligently at the withered oak.

大角豆に醋をかけ、サ、シ、ス、セ、ソ。

ささげに をかけ サシスセソ

Pour vinegar over the green soybeans. Sa, Shi, Su, Se, So.

その魚浅瀬で刺しました。

のうお あさせで さし

That fish was pierced in the shallow water.

立ちましょ、喇叭で、タ、チ、ツ、テ、ト。

たちましょ ら タチツテト

Let's stand up with the trumpet. Ta, Chi, Tsu, Te, To.

トテトテタッタと飛び立った

トテトテ タッタと たった

It took off with a fluttering sound.

蛞蝓のろのろ、ナ、ニ、ヌ、ネ、ノ。

なめくじ ろ ナニヌネノ

The slug crawls slowly. Na, Ni, Nu, Ne, No.

納戸にぬめって、なにねばる。

んど めって なにねばる

It slimed the storeroom, what a mess.

鳩ぽっぽ、ほろほろ。ハ、ヒ、フ、ヘ、ホ。

 ろ ハヒフヘホ

The pigeon coos, fluttering. Ha, Hi, Fu, He, Ho.

日向のお部屋にゃ笛を吹く。

なたの おやにゃ えを

Playing the flute in the sunny room.

蝸牛、螺旋巻、マ、ミ、ム、メ、モ。

い ねじき マミムメモ

Snail, spiral. Ma, Mi, Mu, Me, Mo.

梅の実落ちても見もしまい。

 おちて みも

The plum blossom falls and you won't even see them.

焼栗、ゆで栗。ヤ、イ、ユ、エ、ヨ。

きぐり でぐり 

Roasted chestnuts, boiled chestnuts. Ya, I, Yu, E, Yo.

山田に灯のつく宵の家。

まだに ひのつく いのいえ

In the mountain fields, the lights of houses in the evening are lit.

雷鳥は寒かろ、ラ、リ、ル、レ、ロ。

いちょうは さむか ラリルレロ

The ptarmigans must be cold. Ra, Ri, Ru, Re, Ro.

蓮花が咲いたら、瑠璃の鳥。

んげが さいた るりのと

A lapis lazuli bird after the lotus blooms.

わい、わい、わっしょい。ワ、イ、ウ、エ、ヲ。

い っしょい イウエ

Wai, wai, wasshoi. Wa, I, U, E, Wo.

植木屋、井戸換え、お祭りだ。

うえきや いどがえ おまつりだ

A plant seller, changing of the well, it's a festival.

Translated into English by Studio KonKon ~ Due to some untranslatable parts, some of the translations have been altered to make sense from an English point of view.

※ 山田に灯のつく宵の家。 ~ In some small Japanese villages, lamps are lit and hung from houses as a sign that the people inside are still safe during the cold, snowy, winter nights; though, this may not be what the poem is indicating.

※ わい、わい、わっしょい ~ An onomatopoeic expression usually shouted by a group of people while participating in traditional Japanese festivals. For example: as people carry or lift a mikoshi (a portable shrine) during a procession.

※ 梅の実 ~ Japanese apricot, also known as ume (plum blossom).

Studio KonKon
Composer, musician and educator