花にあかで何かへるらむ女郎花
おほかる野辺に寝なましものを
おほかる野辺に寝なましものを
- Roma-ji
-
Hana ni akade nani kaeruramu ominaeshi
ōkaru nobe ni nenamashi mono o - English Translation
-
not yet sated with flowers—
why should one think to return?
maidenflower fair,
in this field where you abound
I would that I might lie the night.
- Meaning
- Not yet satisfied with the flowers—why should one think of returning? In this field where maidenflowers abound, I would rather stay the night.
- Commentary
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Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)
Composed when, in the reign of Emperor Uda, the men of the Kurōdo-dokoro went out to Sagano for flower viewing, and as the others began to compose poems about returning home.
The maidenflower is likened to a woman, and the poem expresses a frank, unreserved feeling of a man, unconcerned with restraint or refinement.
The Kurōdo-dokoro was an office serving the emperor, handling secretarial duties. Sagano refers to the northern area of present-day Kyoto.
The poet is Taira no Sadafumi, also known as the protagonist of the Heichū Monogatari.
- Author
- Taira no Sadabumi
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Other
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- Rather than alone gazing on you in longing, maidenflower fair, I would that I might plant you within the dwelling where I live.
- maidenflower fair— how it troubles my heart so, to see it thus stand alone within a dwelling fallen into desolation.
- who might it have been that came and cast off to hang this wisteria-robe? with each returning autumn it scents the fields once more.
- is it a keepsake of one who lodged here before— wisteria-robe? ever breathing forth a scent so hard for me to forget.