今はとてわかるる時は天河
わたらぬさきに袖ぞひぢぬる
わたらぬさきに袖ぞひぢぬる
- Roma-ji
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Ima wa tote wakaruru toki wa Amanogawa
wataranu saki ni sode zo hijinuru - English Translation
-
Now it must be so—
as we part from one another,
at Heaven’s River,
before I even cross it,
my sleeves are already wet.
- Meaning
- Now that we must part, as I leave at the Heavenly River, even before I cross it, my sleeves are already wet with tears.
- Commentary
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Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)
This poem was composed before dawn on the night of the seventh day of the seventh month.
It is written from the perspective of Hikoboshi. Knowing that he cannot meet her again until a year has passed, he laments their parting in tears.
Though one might expect his sleeves to be wet after crossing the Heavenly River, the poem expresses his sorrow by showing that they are already soaked with his own tears even before he departs.
- Author
- Minamoto no Muneyuki
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
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Koyoi komu hito ni wa awaji tanabata no
hisashiki hodo ni machi mo koso sure - Next Poem
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Kyō yori wa ima komu toshi no kinō o zo
itsushika to nomi machiwatarubeki