寄る波にたちかさねたる旅ごろも
しほどけしとや人のいとはむ
しほどけしとや人のいとはむ
- Roma-ji
-
Yoru nami ni tachikasanetaru tabigoromo
shiodokeshi to ya hito no itowamu - English Translation
-
This travelling robe
I have cut and layered while
the waves came shoreward—
will you find it wet with brine
and turn from it in dislike?
- Meaning
- This travelling robe I cut and layered as the waves came in—will you find it damp with brine and turn from it?
- Commentary
-
Part One: Akashi
The novice had the day's preparations made splendidly, with fresh travelling clothes for everyone down to the lowest servant. On the hunting robe Genji was to wear that day, Akashi no Kimi had written this poem, and he found it in the midst of the bustle. He answered and exchanged the robe for one he had been wearing himself.
"Yoru nami ni" is a preface leading to "tatsu." "Tatsu" plays the rising of a wave against the cutting of cloth. "Tabigoromo" is the travelling robe, taking up the word Genji had used earlier in the chapter. "Shiodokeshi" is damp with brine, standing for damp with tears. "Itou" is to find distasteful. Tears are worked into the concrete act of sewing a garment, and the gift itself becomes the vessel of the poem.
- Author
- Murasaki Shikibu
- Source
- Genji Monogatari
- Prev Poem
-
Toshi hetsuru tomaya mo arete uki nami no
kaeru kata ni ya mi o taguemashi - Next Poem
-
Katami ni zo kaubekarikeru au koto no
hikazu hedaten naka no koromo o