幾千代とかぎらぬ君が御代なれど
なほ惜しまるる今朝の曙
なほ惜しまるる今朝の曙
- Roma-ji
-
Ikuchiyo to kagiranu kimi ga miyo naredo nao oshimaruru kesa no akebono
- English Translation
-
Though it is a reign
not bounded by a thousand ages,
my lord's reign, yet still
I cannot help but grieve to lose
the dawn light of this morning.
- Meaning
- Though your reign will last a thousand ages without end, I still cannot help regretting this morning's dawn.
- Commentary
-
Book Sixteen Miscellaneous Poems I 1488
Headnote: "Reply."
This is the sixth poem of the sequence on summer, Fujiwara no Iemichi's reply to the poem of the Kamo Priestess's lady in the preceding poem. Though the reign of the one he serves will last a thousand ages, he says, he still regrets this morning's dawn parting.
The author, "Iemichi, Intendant of the Left Gate Guards," was a court noble of the late Heian period. After serving as Middle Captain of the Palace Guards, he rose to Intendant of the Left Gate Guards.
The first line, "ikuchiyo to," refers to endless ages, words celebrating the lasting reign of the priestess.
The second line, "kagiranu kimi ga," means "of my lord without limit." "Kimi" refers to the Kamo Priestess.
The third line, "miyo naredo," uses the concessive "do," meaning "though it is a reign." It turns from words of celebration to the regret of parting.
The fourth line, "nao oshimaruru," uses the spontaneous "ru," meaning "cannot help but be regretted." Taking up "nagori" in the preceding poem, it answers that he too regrets the parting.
The last line, "kesa no akebono," ends on a noun. Taking up "ariake no tsukikage" of the preceding poem, it restates the moment of parting as "this morning's dawn," closing the dawn farewell at the shrine lodge.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Iemichi
- Source
- Shin Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
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Tachiizuru nagori ariake no tsukikage ni itodo katarau hototogisu kana
- Next Poem
-
Umegae ni oritagaetaru hototogisu koe no ayame mo tare ka waku beki