契りけむ心ぞつらきたなばたの
年にひとたびあふはあふかは
年にひとたびあふはあふかは
- Roma-ji
-
Chigirikemu kokoro zo tsuraki tanabata no
toshi ni hitotabi au wa au ka wa - English Translation
-
That pledged heart—
how cruel it seems, that of hers;
for Tanabata,
to meet but once a year—
can such a meeting be called meeting?
- Meaning
- How cruel is the heart that made such a vow: for Tanabata, to meet only once a year—can such a meeting truly be called meeting?
- Commentary
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Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)
This poem was paired in a poetry contest held in the imperial court during the Kanpyō era.
It is composed from the perspective of Hikoboshi. Although it is said that he and Orihime meet only once a year at Tanabata, it is imagined that this was a vow made by Orihime. Yet her seeming coldness makes it difficult for him to accept—can meeting only once a year truly be called a meeting at all?
- Author
- Fujiwara no Okikaze
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Amanogawa asase shiranami tadoritsutsu
watarihateneba ake zo shinikeru - Next Poem
-
Toshi goto ni au to wa suredo tanabata no
nuru yo no kazu zo sukunakarikeru