つれづれのながめにまさる涙河
袖のみひぢて逢ふよしもなし
袖のみひぢて逢ふよしもなし
- Roma-ji
-
Tsurezure no nagame ni masaru namidagawa
sode nomi hijite au yoshi mo nashi - English Translation
-
In lonely contemplation
Tears surpass the flowing river—
My sleeves are drenched,
Yet there is no way to meet you,
No means to see you at all.
- Meaning
- As I dwell in lonely reflection upon you, my tears flow like a river. My sleeves are soaked, and yet there is no way to meet you.
- Commentary
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107. River of Tears
There was a man of high rank. Fujiwara Toshiyuki, who held the office of Naiki (responsible for imperial decrees and records), favored the lady in his service and sought to associate with her.
However, the young woman was inexperienced, unsure even in writing letters, unable to speak with refined words, and did not compose poems. The man prepared draft poems for her to copy and send to Toshiyuki.
The poem is the admiration Toshiyuki expressed upon reading the letters she sent.
The man refers to Ariwara no Narihira, and the exchange of poems in this passage is also included in the Kokinshū.
The word “nagame” plays on both “long rain” and “gazing into the distance,” creating a layered pun.
- Source
- Ise Monogatari
- Other
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- White dewdrops— If they must vanish, let them Vanish as they will; Even if they should remain, None would string them as bright beads.
- Even in the age Of the mighty gods, unheard— At Tatsuta River They bind the water itself With deep crimson threads of dye.
- Because it is shallow Only sleeves are wet, perhaps, In this river of tears; If I heard your very self Flowing there, I would trust it.
- In many ways I think, Yet cannot ask if you think Of me, or think not; So the rain that knows my fate Falls ever more heavily.