This is a more light-hearted poem in contrast to the previous one:
| Japanese | Romanization | Translation |
| 音にきく | Oto ni kiku | Known far and wide, |
| 高師の浜の | Takashi no hama no | the unpredictable waves |
| あだ浪は | Adanami wa | of Takashi’s beach— |
| かけじや袖の | Kakeji ya sode no | I will not let them catch me— |
| ぬれもこそすれ | Nure mo koso sure | For I’d be sorry should my sleeves get wet! |
The author of this poem is only known as “Kii of Princess Yūshi’s Household” (dates unknown). She served in the household of Imperial Princess Yūshi, and was the daughter of Taira no Tsunekata and one Lady Koben. The salon of Princess Yūshi included a number of poets and writers and it seems Kii was no exception. She participated in a number of poetry contests and her poems appear in various anthologies.
Speaking of contests, Professor Mostow explains that this poem actually was intended as a response to another poem in a competition held by Retired Emperor Horikawa. Kii was 70 years old at the time according to another source, which is impressive given that she expresses young love so easily after all these years.
But where is Takashi beach? I checked and it seems to be a famous beach in Osaka Bay, near modern-day Takaishi City in the Osaka Metropolitan Area.
Interesting fact: the other poem she was responding to, was written by none other than the grandfather of Fujiwara no Teika (poem 97), who is the compiler of the Hyakunin Isshu anthology. Interesting how things tie together the way they do. 🙂
The Hyakunin Isshu 
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