Brecon

ブレコンや

Brecon and

歴々な丘

Its storied hills

寄り合ひて

Draw together and gather

雲の上にて

Above the clouds

話し籠りし

The muffling of their speech

Inspiration - 切っ掛け

On the train home for Christmas, looking at the window, I saw shrouded clouds near the Brecons covering the tops of the hills. In the Brecons it is not mountainous rather hilly, these hills have an ancient mystique to them, reminiscent of the old country they reside in. When the clouds hover so low it is as if this gathering of notable hills wish to speak in secret above the blanket of the firmament that rings about their shoulders.

クリスマスということもあり、故郷へ帰る途中、車窓から見ると、雲に覆われたブレコンの丘が目に映りました。ブレコン・ビーコンズは、いわゆる険しい山岳地帯というわけではなく、むしろなだらかな丘陵が連なる土地です。そこには、古い国に相応しく、歴史の深い雰囲気が静かに漂っているように感じられます。ちょうど雲が丘の肩あたりまで下りてきており、丘々は雲の上に浮かびながら、人間には聞こえぬ話を交わしているかのようでした。その情景に心を動かされ、短歌を書きました。

Glossary of Terms - 用語集

• ブレコン (Brecon)

Refers to the Brecon Beacons, a mountain range in Wales known for hiking and natural beauty.

• 歴々な丘 (Ancient hills)

The word 歴々 means venerable, ancient or notable referring to the 丘 (hills).

• 寄り合ひて (Gathered together)

A classical form meaning to come together or assemble closely such as in counsel or a gathering.

• 雲の上にて (Above the clouds)

This simply means to be above the clouds and provides the location for the final line. にて gives a slightly more 'fluffy' description of the location giving it a general setting rather than a specific spot.

• 話し籠りし (Talking, muffled)

This a compound verb meaning to talk and to be muffled.