見しはなくあるは悲しき世の果てを
背きしかひもなくなくぞ経る
背きしかひもなくなくぞ経る
- Roma-ji
-
Mishi wa naku aru wa kanashiki yo no hate o
somukishi kai mo naku naku zo furu - English Translation
-
The ones I once knew
are gone, and those who remain
grieve—at the world's end
I pass my days weeping, with
nothing gained by leaving it
- Meaning
- Those I knew are gone, those who remain only grieve; and at this end of the world I pass my days in tears, having gained nothing by renouncing it.
- Commentary
-
Part One: Suma
On the evening before he left, Genji set out for the northern hills to visit the late Emperor's grave, but went first to take his leave of Fujitsubo, now a nun. They spoke through a blind, exchanging words about their fears for the Heir Apparent, and the feelings between them rose past speaking. When he said he was going to the grave and asked whether she had any message, she brought out this poem with difficulty. He answered, and they parted with nothing more said.
"Those I once saw" are the dead—the late Emperor. "Those who remain grieve" is the survivors' part. "Somuki" is turning from the world, that is, taking vows, and "having gained nothing" says the suffering did not stop. "Naku naku" is weeping as one goes on, with the word doubled. The confession that renunciation brought no relief adds much to the weight of this chapter.
- Author
- Murasaki Shikibu
- Source
- Genji Monogatari
- Other
-
- Was it sinking down into that river of tears with no shoal to meet, that made the beginning of the channel I drift along
- The bubble afloat on the river of tears will surely vanish soon, not waiting for the shallows that come after the current
- At that first parting I thought all grief had been used up and gone from me, and here again the sorrow of this world has grown the more
- When I think back on that time we came in a train with hollyhock worn, it is hard to bear it now, this sacred fence at Kamo