Kaerite wa mi ni sou mono to shirinagara kureyuku toshi o nani shitauran

English Translation

Knowing all the while
that, far from leaving, the years
cling fast to the body,
why is it that I long so
for the year that fades away?

Meaning

I know full well that the passing year, far from leaving me, only clings the closer as added age—so why do I grieve to see it go?

Commentary

Book Six Winter Poems 692

Headnote: "Composed at the end of the year."
This is the second poem of the year's-end sequence. Knowing that the departing year, far from leaving, only clings to the body as added age, the speaker wonders why she still longs for it. According to the headnote, it was composed at the end of the year.
The author, "Jōsaimon'in no Hyōe," was a daughter of Minamoto no Akinaka and a younger sister of Taikenmon'in no Horikawa, and served as a lady-in-waiting to Jōsaimon'in, Princess Muneko, a daughter of Emperor Toba. As her personal name is not recorded, the designation in the original is used.
The scene is the end of the year, and no place is specified.
The direct occasion is composing on the arrival of the year's end.

The first line, "kaerite wa," means "on the contrary." The year that ought to depart instead remains with the body.
The second line, "mi ni sou mono to," means "as something that clings to me," referring to the passing year added to one's age.
The third line, "shirinagara," means "though I know it."
The fourth line, "kureyuku toshi o," means "the year that is drawing to its close."
The last line, "nani shitauran," means "why do I long for it?" with "ran" as an auxiliary of present conjecture inquiring into cause. Since the end of the year only adds age to the body, there should be no reason to regret its passing, yet the speaker longs for it all the same, and reasoning brings this contradiction of the heart into view. Following the preceding poem's longing for others at year's end, this poem sings of longing for the departing year itself.

Author

Jōsaimon'in no Hyōe

Source

Shin Kokin Wakashu

Other