流れ出でんうき名にしばし淀むかな
求めぬ袖の淵はあれども
求めぬ袖の淵はあれども
- Roma-ji
-
Nagareiden ukina ni shibashi yodomu kana motomenu sode no fuchi wa aredomo
- English Translation
-
The rumors that would
flow out, bitter and afloat—
for a while I pause;
though my sleeves unbidden hold
a pool of tears deep as any
- Meaning
- Fearing the bitter rumors that would flow out into the world, I hesitate for a while, though, unbidden, my sleeves already hold deep pools of tears.
- Commentary
-
Book Fifteen Love Poems V 1395
Headnote: "Topic unknown."
This is the first poem of the sequence on a severed bond. Her sleeves hold deep pools of tears she never sought, yet thinking of the rumors that would flow out, she hesitates for a while. The headnote gives no topic, and the circumstances of composition are not recorded.
The author, "Sagami," was a lady-in-waiting poet named for her marriage to Ōe no Kinsuke, Governor of Sagami. She later served Princess Shūshi, daughter of Emperor Ichijō.
The first line, "nagareiden," means "that would flow out." Rumors spreading through the world are likened to water flowing out.
In the second line, "ukina ni shibashi," "uki" is a pivot word joining "floating" on water and "bitter." "Ukina" means rumors of a love affair.
The third line, "yodomu kana," means "I hesitate," overlapping with water standing still. It ends with the exclamatory "kana," a break after the third line.
The fourth line, "motomenu sode no," means "though I did not seek it," referring to tears gathering in the sleeves of themselves.
The last line, "fuchi wa aredomo," means "though there are pools of tears in my sleeves." "Flow," "stand still," and "pool" are words associated with water, so the whole poem is threaded with the language of water. From the images and dreams of the preceding groups, the book turns here to a love that fears others' eyes and rumors.
- Author
- Sagami
- Source
- Shin Kokin Wakashu
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