わが待たぬ年はきぬれど冬草の
かれにし人はおとづれもせず
かれにし人はおとづれもせず
- Roma-ji
-
Waga matanu toshi wa kinuredo fuyugusa no
karenishi hito wa otozure mo sezu - English Translation
-
though the year I do not wait
has now come round at last again
like winter withered grass—
the one who has gone away
sends not even a word of news
- Meaning
- Though the year I do not await has come again, the one who has gone away, like winter-withered grass, sends not even a word.
- Commentary
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Book Six Winter Poems
This poem was composed at the end of the twelfth month, while waiting for someone who had gone away to return.
“Winter grass” serves as a pillow word for “withered,” which also carries the meaning of “to part.” The poem expresses the gloomy feelings of an aging person, for whom the coming of a new year means only further aging. It invites deeper reflection on who the awaited person is, where they have gone, and why not even a message has come.
- Author
- Oshikochi no Mitsune
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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