月見ればちぢに物こそ悲しけれ
わが身ひとつの秋にはあらねど
わが身ひとつの秋にはあらねど
- Roma-ji
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Tsuki mireba chiji ni mono koso kanashikere
waga mi hitotsu no aki ni wa aranedo - English Translation
-
When I see the moon,
my thoughts scatter into grief—
in countless ways;
though this autumn is not mine
alone, it feels so to my heart.
- Meaning
- When I look upon the moon, sorrow rises in countless ways, though this autumn does not belong to me alone.
- Commentary
-
Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)
This poem was composed and paired at a poetry contest held at the residence of Prince Koretada.
While the feeling of sorrow upon seeing the moon is a familiar expression, the lower lines—“though this autumn is not mine alone”—carry a deeper nuance, as if the speaker is trying to persuade themselves, yet still feels as though autumn exists only to sadden them.
A contrast is also employed between “in countless ways” (chiji ni) and “myself alone,” evoking the rhetorical pairing of many and one.
This poem is also included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu.
- Author
- Oe no Chisato
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
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Sayonaka to yo wa fukenurashi kari ga ne no
kikoyuru sora ni tsuki wataru miyu - Next Poem
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Hisakata no tsuki no katsura mo aki wa nao
momiji sureba ya terimasaruramu