Toe kashi na obana ga moto no omoigusa shioruru nobe no tsuyu wa ikani to - Shin Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

問へかしな尾花がもとの思ひ草
しをるる野辺の露はいかにと

Roma-ji: Toe kashi na obana ga moto no omoigusa shioruru nobe no tsuyu wa ikani to
English Translation: Ask me, if you would:
beneath the silver grass plumes,
the longing-flower,
and in the wilting meadow,
how does the dew fare tonight?
Meaning: If only you would ask me how the dew is faring in the meadow where the longing-flower wilts beneath the silver grass plumes.
Commentary: Book Fifteen Love Poems V 1340

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown."
This is the fifth poem of the dew sequence. The speaker wishes the beloved would at least ask how the dew is faring in the meadow where the longing-flower wilts beneath the silver grass. The longing-flower is overlaid with the speaker sunk in brooding. The headnote gives no topic, and the circumstances of composition are not recorded.
The author, "Intendant of the Right Gate Guards Michitomo," is Minamoto no Michitomo. He was a son of Palace Minister Minamoto no Michichika and one of the compilers of the Shin Kokinshū.
The foundation poem is one in Book Ten of the Man'yōshū beginning "michi no be no / obana ga shita no / omoigusa," which lends brooding thoughts to the longing-flower growing beneath the silver grass.

The first line, "toe kashi na," means "if only you would ask." "Kashi" and "na" press the wish. The poem breaks after the first line.
The second line, "obana ga moto no," means "at the foot of the silver grass plumes." It takes "obana ga shita no" from the foundation poem.
The third line, "omoigusa," is the same word as in the foundation poem. Containing "omoi" (longing), it overlays the speaker lost in brooding.
The fourth line, "shioruru nobe no," takes up the "dew of the fields" from the preceding poem and describes a meadow wilting under dew. It also suggests sleeves wilting with tears.
The last line, "tsuyu wa ikani to," turns back to "toe kashi na" in an inversion. Where the preceding poem lamented that no one would look with pity, this poem calls to the beloved to at least ask, offering the same grief in the form of a wish.
Author: Minamoto no Michitomo
Source: Shin Kokin Wakashu
Prev Poem: Koiwabite nobe no tsuyu to wa kienu tomo tare ka kusaba o aware to wa min
Next Poem: Yo no ma ni mo kiyubeki mono o tsuyushimo no ikani shinobe to tanome okuran