Gay Narcissus. [MB]

Een sexy jonge dienaar
zingt moderne volksliedjes
over kersebloesems.

A charming boy-servant
is singing modern folk songs
on cherry blossoms.


Vertaling/Translation: 白狐

[Matsuo-Bashô-151, lente/spring 1682.] [7/7/5]
eñ naru yákko / ímayô haná ni / rôsaï sú.


Narcissus was a boy !! He scorned nymph Echo's love of him.
Báshô must have thought:
"He scorned her, maybe because he was gay !!"


"naru . . . su " ("su" in katákana !! an Echo of Naru ?!
a foreign word as a rule is written in katákana.)

艶 eñ = charming; fascinating; voluptuous.
ナル naru = narcissistic/-ism (already in 17th c. Japanese ??),
derived from French "narcissisme" > narushishisumu.
奴 yakko = servant (esp. a samurai's attendant).
今様 ímayô = modern style.
花 haná = 1. flower; blossom; bloom; petal;
2. blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms); cherry blossom; ...
に ni = in; to; from; by; about; -ly; ...
弄 rô = play with; tamper; trifle with.
斎 sai = purification; Buddhist food; room; worship; avoid; alike.
ス su = surú = do; make; ...
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