心にもまかせざりける命もて
頼めもおかじ常ならぬ世を
頼めもおかじ常ならぬ世を
- Roma-ji
-
Kokoro ni mo makasezarikeru inochi mote tanome mo okaji tsune naranu yo o
- English Translation
-
With this life of mine
that will not heed even
what my heart desires,
I will make you no promises—
this world is not constant
- Meaning
- With a life that does not follow even my own heart's wishes, I will make you no promises; this world is not constant.
- Commentary
-
Book Fifteen Love Poems V 1423
Headnote: "Topic unknown."
This is the first poem of the sequence on life and one's lot. With a life that does not follow even one's own heart, he will make no promises for the future, since this world is impermanent. The headnote gives no topic, and the circumstances of composition are not recorded.
The author, "Provisional Middle Counselor Atsutada," is Fujiwara no Atsutada. A son of Minister of the Left Fujiwara no Tokihira, he rose to Provisional Middle Counselor. He was one of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.
The first line, "kokoro ni mo," means "even to my own heart."
The second line, "makasezarikeru," means "that will not obey."
The third line, "inochi mote," means "with a life." Taking up the preceding poem, which could not forget even in exchange for life, it looks here at the unreliability of life itself.
The fourth line, "tanome mo okaji," means "I will not make promises for you to rely on," "ji" being a negative volition. The poem breaks after the fourth line. Where "tanome okuran" in 1341 resented being made to rely on promises, here the speaker refrains from making such promises himself.
The last line, "tsune naranu yo o," means "since the world is inconstant." Inverted from the fourth line, it gives afterward the reason for making no promise.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Atsutada
- Source
- Shin Kokin Wakashu
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Nagaki yo no tsukinu nageki no taezaraba nani ni inochi o kaete wasuren
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Yo no uki mo hito no tsuraki mo shinoburu ni koishiki ni koso omoiwabinure