女郎花秋の野風にうちなびき
心ひとつを誰に寄すらむ
心ひとつを誰に寄すらむ
- Roma-ji
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Ominaeshi aki no nokaze ni uchinabiki
kokoro hitotsu o tare ni yosuramu - English Translation
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Maidenflowers sway
in autumn fields, bent by the wind—
so too her heart;—
to whom, I wonder, does she
give that single, wayward heart?
- Meaning
- The maidenflowers bend in the autumn wind across the fields; so too, to whom does that single heart turn?
- Commentary
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Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)
Composed and presented at the maidenflower contest held at the Suzaku-in.
The poem likens a woman of many loves to the maidenflower swaying in the autumn wind. From a man’s perspective, it may express curiosity about whom her heart is given, or perhaps a sense of disapproval that she does not fix her affection on one alone.
“Suzaku-in” refers to the residence of the Retired Emperor Uda, and may also indicate the emperor himself. The site is in present-day Kyoto.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Tokihira
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
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Ominaeshi ōkaru nobe ni yadori seba
ayanaku ada no na o ya tachinamu - Next Poem
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Aki narade au koto kataki ominaeshi
ama no kawara ni oinu mono yue