Ōmu Komachi

鸚鵡小町 Komachi’s Parrot-Reply Poem

1 Source and/or Related Material

Jikkinshō, Abutsushō, etc

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

The courtier Shindainagon Yukiie (waki) arrives at the temple of Sekidera in search of the legendary beauty and poet Ono no Komachi (shite). He has come bearing a waka poem from Emperor Yōzei, who has heard that Komachi, her beauty destroyed by old age, is living there in poverty despite her long years of service at court. Hearing the poem, Komachi replies with a poem composed of exactly the same words except for the one particle zo, in such a way as to say, essentially, “I do not need your pity.” Komachi performs a dance which she says the ancient poet Ariwara no Narihira danced when he visited the island of Tamatsushima to pray at the shrine of poetry. The sun has set, and so Komachi sends Yukiie on his way.