kozuka inscription help!!

[Mantis dude]

Hi All,

 

I have been trying to decode the back of a kozuka but I am over my head. I know it is signed ichinomiya echizen daijo minamoto no nagatsune but the rest of the inscription I can't get. I assume it must be a poem or something. Would appreciate any help. I added a photo with powder to help bring out characters. Thanks!

 

Ken

[k morita]

Hi,

This is Kozuka which you should just possess.

The theme of a haiku poem on this Kozuka is a mantis.

[Mantis dude]

Thank you! Just to share the front

 

I have to add, your knowledge is really helpful and this board truly is a great tool!

[b.hennick]

Congrats Ken! Looks like another good one.

[k morita]

Hi,

 

Nice both side of Kozuka!

Please wait for English translation of the haiku poem till tomorrow. :D

 

I learned one by this poetry.

Mantis's forelimb looks like a sickle, therefore, I thought that it was a " sickle."

However, people of the old time had called it an ax.

An ax and a mantis appears　also in this poetry.

[k morita]

Sorry I forgot translation this poem.

Please wait. :D

[k morita]

This poetry appears in the collection of pictures of the insects of the Edo period.

The same poetry on the Kozuka.

Pen-name of the author of this poetry(1755－1821) is "Asakusa no Ichihito".

[Mantis dude]

That is amazing! Thank you so much for your help and research. I would have never found that info ( I tried but google failed me- haha). Really interesting as well to find this on the kozuka for me. Thanks again! Best wishes.