忘れては夢かとぞ思ふ思ひきや
ゆきふみわけて君を見むとは
ゆきふみわけて君を見むとは
- Roma-ji
-
Wasurete wa yume ka to zo omou omoiki ya
yuki fumiwakete kimi o mimu to wa - English Translation
-
Forgetting all else,
I can only think it a dream—
Had I ever thought
That, parting the deep-fallen snow,
I would come to see you here?
- Meaning
- Forgetting the world as it was, I can only think this must be a dream. I never imagined that, parting the deep snow, I would come to see you living here in seclusion.
- Commentary
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83. The Grass Pillow
Long ago Prince Koretaka often went from the capital to the detached palace at Minase. As usual, the elderly head of the Horse Bureau accompanied him on the falconry outing. After spending several days there, they returned to the palace in the capital.
The head of the Horse Bureau escorted the prince back to the palace and tried to return quickly to his own residence, but the prince served wine and would not let him leave, wishing to give him gifts as a reward for accompanying the hunt and for seeing him back. He had always attended the prince in such close familiarity, yet quite unexpectedly the prince shaved his head and entered the religious life.
At the New Year he went to pay his respects at Ono, at the foot of Mount Hiei, where the snow lay deep. Though it was the New Year, unlike the days when he held office, the prince now had nothing to occupy him and appeared somewhat lonely. So he stayed beside him for a long time, speaking together as they recalled the past.
The poem was composed by the head of the Horse Bureau as he had to return to the capital at dusk, reciting it through tears.
The head of the Horse Bureau was Ariwara no Narihira, who was related by marriage to Prince Koretaka. The prince had once enjoyed the favor of Emperor Montoku and had prospects of becoming crown prince, but he was pushed aside during the consolidation of Fujiwara power. The poem expresses Narihira’s feelings as he reflects on the changed fate of the prince he had long served with affection.
- Source
- Ise Monogatari
- Other
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- Everywhere alike, Would that all the mountain peaks Might become quite flat— If there were no mountain edge, The moon would not slip behind.
- Even for a pillow I would not bind gathered grass— For on this spring night Not even the autumn night Can be relied on for length.
- Now that I am old, They say there is a parting None can turn aside— All the more I long to see You, my dear and cherished one.
- In this fleeting world, Would there were no parting None can turn aside— For the sake of children who Pray their parents live a thousand years.