The Eastern Journey of the Celebrated Poet Ariwara no Narihira

This picture is based on the ninth scene in Tales of Ise. Finding life uncomfortable in the capital, Kyoto, the poet traveled east with some friends. They took a river ferry near Mount Fuji and saw a flock of strange birds. In answer to their questions, the ferryman replied, “It is a capital bird, of course.” Stopping on the bank, the poet made this request:

If you are in truth
What your name seems to make you,
I will put it to you,
Capital-bird, this question:
Do things go well with my love?
(Translated by Steven Carter)