我がおもひ空の煙となりぬれば
雲居ながらもなほ尋ねてん
雲居ながらもなほ尋ねてん
- Roma-ji
-
Waga omoi sora no keburi to narinureba kumoi nagara mo nao tazuneten
- English Translation
-
Since the fire of my love
has become smoke in the sky,
even from the clouds,
far away though I may be,
I will seek you out the more
- Meaning
- Since the fire of my longing has risen as smoke into the sky, even from far among the clouds I will go on seeking you all the more.
- Commentary
-
Book Eleven Love Poems I 1007
Headnote: "Reply."
This is the second of two poems exchanged with the Horikawa Regent, a reply to the preceding poem. His longing, turned to smoke in the sky, will seek her out even from among the clouds, he answers the woman who would not tell him where she lives.
The author, "Chūgi-kō," is Fujiwara no Kanemichi. The second son of Fujiwara no Morosuke, Minister of the Right, he succeeded his elder brother Koretada and rose to Regent and Chancellor. Chūgi-kō is his posthumous name, and he was also called the Horikawa Regent from his mansion at Horikawa.
In the first line, "omoi" pivots between longing and "hi," fire.
The second line, "sora no keburi to," means "into smoke in the sky," the fire of longing burning and rising, with fire and smoke as associated words.
The third line, "narinureba," means "since it has become," a definite condition.
The fourth line, "kumoi nagara mo," means "even while far among the clouds": one turned to smoke may seek from the heights of the sky.
In the last line, "ten" expresses firm resolve: even if you will not tell me, I will find you. Taking up "tazunekeri ya to" from her poem with "tazuneten," he answers the testing woman with a will to seek her anywhere. Poems of smoke follow from the next poem on, and the "smoke in the sky" of this poem leads into that sequence.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Kanemichi
- Source
- Shin Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Waga yado wa soko to mo nani ka oshiubeki iwade koso mime tazunekeri ya to
- Next Poem
-
Shirushi naki keburi o kumo ni magaetsutsu yo o hete Fuji no yama to moenan