Konotabi wa (Sugawara no Michizane, Hyakunin Isshu No. 24) / Garu JP
I woke up this morning before my alarm
Checked what's in my bag three times over
The pages I should know by heart — one more time
My fingers turning them won't move right
A perfect preparation was never going to happen
Then I'll just take everything I've got
This time, no time to gather what I need
I stuff all the courage I have into my bag
Take a breath, and dive right in
The rest is mani-mani, mani-mani
In the hands of the gods
"It'll work out somehow" — I pressed my palms together
A thousand years ago, someone panicked too
A sudden journey, nothing to offer the gods
So he held out the mountain's maple leaves, blazing red
"Let this be my offering," he said to the divine
And yet the gods received it with a smile
If it's your very best, it's the finest offering of all
This time, with no sacred streamers to give
I offer up all of my makeshift heart
The future god of learning wears a wry smile
The rest is mani-mani, mani-mani
In the hands of the gods
It's beautiful because it isn't perfect
This time, with no streamers to offer, at Mount Tamuke
Let the brocade of autumn leaves be my gift, as the gods will
This time, I won't waver anymore
Everything I've brought with me is my offering
Like the autumn leaves, I'll blaze bright
The rest is mani-mani, mani-mani
In the hands of the gods
"Come what may!" — and I broke into a run
Mani-mani... in the hands of the gods...
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