Early Summer・初夏
Poetic Name (Mei)
銘
Description / source poetry
Babbling Brook
せせらぎ
Seseragi
'Seseragi' is the sound of trickling water in a brooke or shallows of a stream. It evokes a lovely cooling image fit for summer.
Image: @minenomatsu
水の影
Mizu no Kage
Catching fireflies
蛍狩
Hotarugari
The pastime of catching, or watching the flickering lights of fireflies on summer nights.
Image: @minenomatsu
Spider Dance at Twilight
蜘蛛の振舞ひ
Kumo no Furumai
"Tomorrow's diary: A visit from my lover, under blue-gold sky. So writes this spider at twilight, weaving my dream into night."
「わが背子が来べきよひなりささがにの、蜘蛛の振舞ひかねてしるしも」
- from the 古今集 Kokinshū, translation by Sōmu Wojciński
Since antiquity in China, Korea and Japan, seeing a spider weaving a web at night has been considered an auspicious sign that one's lover will pay a visit the following day.
*This mei can be used all summer.
Image: @minenomatsu
Yin-side of Verdure
Dark Foot of Trees
緑陰
Ryoku-in
木下闇
Koshita-yami
The verdure of trees has grown lusu and resplendent Yang. Under the canopy is calming shade. Yin.
Where the glow of sunlight can still be felt, 'Ryoku-in' is appropriate.
Where the shadows are so dark the ground is moist 'Koshita-yami' is more appropriate.
Bluish Cloud
碧雲
Heki-un
In the high azure sky, the clouds appear to have taken on a tinge of blue.
