Umi narazu tataeru mizu no soko made ni kiyoki kokoro wa tsuki zo terasamu - Shin Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

海ならずたたへる水の底までに
清き心は月ぞ照らさむ

Roma-ji: Umi narazu tataeru mizu no soko made ni kiyoki kokoro wa tsuki zo terasamu
English Translation: Though it is no sea,
down to the depths of water
brimming to the full,
this heart of mine, pure and clear,
the moon will surely shine on.
Meaning: Just as it shines down to the bottom of brimming water, deep though it is no sea, the moon will surely light up the purity of my heart.
Commentary: Book Eighteen Miscellaneous Poems III 1699

Headnote: "Sea."
A poem on the topic of the sea, this is the tenth of Sugawara no Michizane's twelve poems on one-character topics. As moonlight reaches the bottom of deep, brimming water, so the moon will surely shine on his pure heart. It is a poem appealing to heaven for recognition of his innocence.
The author, "Kan Zō Daijō Daijin," is Sugawara no Michizane. No author is named in the original; the attribution continues from the preceding poem. The son of Sugawara no Koreyoshi and renowned as a scholar and poet in Chinese, he rose to Minister of the Right but under Emperor Daigo was demoted to Provisional Governor-General of Dazaifu and died in exile. Because he was posthumously granted the office of Chancellor, he is referred to by this title.

The first line, "umi narazu," means "though it is not the sea." The sea of the topic is worked in by negation, suggesting water as deep as any sea.
The second line, "tataeru mizu no," is water brimming to the full. "Ru" is the attributive form of the continuative auxiliary "ri."
The third line, "soko made ni," means "down to the very bottom." The moonlight reaching the depths is laid over the depths of the heart.
The fourth line, "kiyoki kokoro wa," is the poet's own pure heart, that is, a self with nothing to be ashamed of.
The last line, "tsuki zo terasamu," closes the kakari-musubi of "zo" with the attributive form of the conjectural "mu." Though people may not know it, the moon at least will see to the bottom of his heart, and in this lies his trust in heaven.
Author: Sugawara no Michizane
Source: Shin Kokin Wakashu
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