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
-
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
- Other
-
- if the scent of plum mingled with the fallen snow resting on the ground— who then could clearly discern and pluck each one apart
- when the snow falls down on every tree flowers seem to bloom— upon each single one which of them is truly plum how could I discern and pluck
- as the passing year draws each time to its close again the snow falls ever more— and so too does my own self grow older with each passing year
- when snow falls at last and the year comes to its close— only then we see the pine that never changes hue that never turns like autumn leaves