Paulownia flower - Kiri no hana

This is Kitahara Hakushu's first collection of tanka. It was published by Toundo Shoten in January 1913 (Taisho 2). It consists of 449 tanka poems and six "Short Poems" and "Poems" published between 1909 and 1912. In the preface, he describes the collection as "a sad lyric collection of tanka poems" and "a remnant of a dear dream from my youth," and writes, "If my poems are impressionistic oil paintings with strong colors, my songs must be the dampness of turpentine that moves faintly on the reverse side." ("Paulownia Flowers and Castella"), describing the relationship between the worlds of his poetry in "Jashumon" and "Omoide" and the world of his poetry in "Paulownia Flowers." His prose works include "Paulownia Flowers and Castella" and "Daytime Thoughts," which incorporate elements of poetry and poetry theory, as well as "Botanical Garden Pieces" and "Small Box of Senses," which show a fresh modern sensibility. The next two are "White Cat" and "Melancholy Bug," which describe the feelings and intense anguish of a "defeated man" who falls into prison with a married woman after his release from prison. "Lamentation" is placed before "White Cat" and "Melancholy Bug," and includes a dedication to Toshiko's nickname "To the Sinner Sophie / Number 387," as well as his own prisoner number, creating a heartfelt lyrical rhythm of the intense feelings he had while in custody.

[Age Kubo]

When the hands of the clock strike one, I think of you.

"The Great Series of Modern Japanese Literature 28: Kitahara Hakushu Collection" (1970, Kadokawa Shoten)" ▽ "The Great Series of Waka Literature 29: Paulownia Flowers/Sake Hogai" edited by Jun Kubota (1998, Meiji Shoin)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

北原白秋の第一歌集。1913年（大正2）1月東雲堂書店刊。1909年から12年にかけて発表された449首の短歌と6編の「小歌論」「詩文」からなる。序言では「この哀れなる抒情(じょじょう)歌集」「これわかき日のいとほしき夢のきれはし」と見なし、「私の詩が色彩の強い印象派の油絵ならば私の歌はその裏面にかすかに動いてゐるテレビン油のしめりであらねばならぬ。」（「桐の花とカステラ」）と『邪宗門』『思ひ出』の詩世界と『桐の花』の歌世界との関係を記している。散文は詩歌論風の要素を交えた「桐の花とカステラ」「昼の思」と清新な近代感覚を示す「植物園小品」「感覚の小函(こばこ)」。そして出獄後、人妻と牢獄に堕(お)ちた〈敗徳者〉の思いと烈(はげ)しい煩悶(はんもん)を書いた「白猫」「ふさぎの虫」からなる。「哀傷篇」は「白猫」「ふさぎの虫」の前に置かれ、「罪びとソフィーに贈る／『三八七』番」という俊子の愛称と自身の囚人番号による献辞を添え、勾留(こうりゅう)中の烈しい思いが切実な抒情のリズムとなっている。

［阿毛久芳］

　時計の針Ⅰ(いち)とⅠとに来(きた)るときするどく君をおもひつめにき

『『日本近代文学大系28　北原白秋集』（1970・角川書店）』▽『久保田淳監修『和歌文学大系29　桐の花／酒ほがひ』（1998・明治書院）』

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