Setsuna #749: Sleepless Moonlit Night
Setsuna
Here I go, then… “As spring has passed, and summer has come again, so the pure white…”
Player
Ummm… Oh! “So the pure white clothes dry on Mount Amanokaguyama”!
Setsuna
Correct! Good job!
Player
Eh, it's just luck. I'd seen the words just a few moments ago, after all.
Setsuna
Even so, it's not easy to recite a poem from Hyakunin Isshu. I never thought we'd get a homework assignment like this.
Player
Okay, let's start by reading the first three lines to each other, then trying to get the correct bottom two lines, quiz style.
Setsuna
Okay. On to the next question, then.
Player
All right, here I go. “'Twould be better to fall to sleep than pass the night…”
Setsuna
Hmm… I think there were only about four that sounded something like that, so…
Setsuna
Ugh, I'm sorry. I give up.
Player
The correct bottom two lines are “waiting till the moon descends beneath the horizon.”
Setsuna
Ahhh, that's it!
Player
I knew this poem was about waiting for someone to come, but it's actually about waiting for so long that night passes and the moon goes down, huh?
Setsuna
Wow, that's so romantic. I kind of feel like I understand the poet's emotions.
Setsuna
After all, sometimes I lose sleep while waiting for you to reply to my messages, wondering if I should just message you again.
Setsuna
Oh, geez, what am I saying—
Player
You too, Setsuna?!
Setsuna
Huh?! You mean, you do the same thing?
| Option 1: “I'm always staying up late wondering if you'll contact me.” |
|---|
| Player Yeah, I'm always staying up late staring at my phone, wondering if you're going to message or call me. Setsuna Y-You do? Ack, I feel kind of embarrassed! |
| Option 2: “I'm always staying up late wondering if I should contact you.” |
| Player Yeah. Sometimes I want to message or call you, but then I don't because I worry that it's too sudden, and then before I know it, I'm up late again. Setsuna Really?! Then we're in the same boat! |
Player
I guess we were both thinking the same thing, huh.
Setsuna
*Giggle* I suppose this means we're like two peas in a pod, doesn't it?
Setsuna
When I think about the meanings within poems like this, I realize that Hyakunin Isshu is filled with amazing ones.
Player
Same. Once I learned the meaning of this poem, I fell in love with it. I have it totally memorized now.
Setsuna
It's fun to learn them in a quiz style, but really learning the meaning is probably much better for making them stick.
Player
Why don't we tell each other about our favorite Hyakunin Isshu poems, then?
Setsuna
Wow, sounds fun! I'll get to learn one of your favorite poems on top of learning the meaning!
Setsuna
Although… While I'm happy that you'll learn about one of my favorite poems, it's a little embarrassing too.
Setsuna
I mean, you're going to understand all my deepest thoughts from its meaning.
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