穂にもいでぬ山田をもると藤衣
稲葉の露にぬれぬ日ぞなき
稲葉の露にぬれぬ日ぞなき
- Roma-ji
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Ho ni mo idenu yamada o moru to fujigoromo
inaba no tsuyu ni nurenu hi zo naki - English Translation
-
though no ears appear
I guard the mountain rice fields—
in my humble dress;
there is not a single day
I am not soaked with the dew
- Meaning
- Though the ears have not yet appeared, I guard the mountain fields—there is not a day my humble robe is not soaked with dew upon the rice leaves.
- Commentary
-
Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)
It depicts the figure of a farmer tending the rice fields and guarding them from animals.
The phrase “to put forth ears” also carries the sense of coming into view or gaining notice. Read in that way, the poem may also express the sorrow of striving without being recognized.
“Fuji-goromo” refers to a coarse garment made from the fibers of wisteria or kudzu.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Yamada moru aki no kariio ni oku tsuyu wa
inaosedori no namida narikeri - Next Poem
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Kareru ta ni ouru hitsuji no ho ni idenu wa
yo o imasara ni akihatenu to ka