Ashihiki no konata kanata ni michi wa aredo miyako e iza to iu hito zo naki - Shin Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

あしひきのこなたかなたに道はあれど
都へいざといふ人ぞなき

Roma-ji: Ashihiki no konata kanata ni michi wa aredo miyako e iza to iu hito zo naki
English Translation: Through the rugged hills
paths run this way and that way,
and yet there is none
who calls to me, "Come, let us
go back to the capital."
Meaning: Paths run here and there through the mountains, yet there is no one who says to me, "Come, let us go to the capital."
Commentary: Book Eighteen Miscellaneous Poems III 1690

Headnote: "Mountain."
A poem on the topic of the mountain, this is the opening poem of Book Eighteen. The book begins with twelve poems by Sugawara no Michizane on one-character topics, and this is the first of them. Paths run here and there through the mountains, yet no one calls to him to return to the capital. It is read as voicing the grief of Michizane, exiled to Dazaifu, whose hope of returning had been cut off.
The author, "Kan Zō Daijō Daijin," is Sugawara no Michizane. The son of Sugawara no Koreyoshi, he was renowned as a scholar and poet in Chinese, won the trust of Emperor Uda, and rose to Minister of the Right. Under Emperor Daigo he was demoted to Provisional Governor-General of Dazaifu and died in exile in Engi 3. Because he was posthumously granted the office of Chancellor, he is referred to by this title.

The first line, "ashihiki no," is a pillow word for "mountain." The poem never names its topic directly but calls up the mountain through the pillow word.
The second line, "konata kanata ni," means "here and there," describing mountain paths that lead off in every direction.
In the third line, "michi wa aredo," the particle "do" is concessive. It sets up the premise that there are paths enough, leading into the lament of the lower verse.
In the fourth line, "miyako e iza to," "iza" is a word used to invite someone along. The poet imagines someone calling him to come back to the capital.
The last line, "iu hito zo naki," closes the kakari-musubi of the particle "zo" with the attributive form "naki." The abundance of paths is set against the absence of anyone to invite him, sharply conveying the loneliness of one who cannot return.
Author: Sugawara no Michizane
Source: Shin Kokin Wakashu
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