憂しと言ひて世をひたぶるに背かねば
物思ひ知らぬ身とやなりなむ
物思ひ知らぬ身とやなりなむ
- Roma-ji
-
Ushi to iite yo o hitaburu ni somukaneba mono omoishiranu mi to ya narinamu
- English Translation
-
Calling it wretched,
yet not turning from the world
with all of my heart,
shall I become one who knows
nothing of the way of things?
- Meaning
- Though I call the world wretched, I do not wholeheartedly turn my back on it; will I become one who knows nothing of the way of things?
- Commentary
-
Book Eighteen Miscellaneous Poems III 1743
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown."
This is the first of the poems on turning from the world. Though he calls the world wretched, he does not wholeheartedly renounce it; will he become one who knows nothing of the way of things? He reflects on himself, weary of the world yet unable to take vows.
The author, "Kiyohara no Motosuke," was the grandson of Kiyohara no Fukayabu and father of Sei Shōnagon. As one of the Five Men of the Pear Chamber he took part in compiling the Gosen Wakashū, and he is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.
The first line, "ushi to iite," means "saying it is wretched." Its six syllables, one more than the norm, show the act of lamenting aloud.
In the second line, "yo o hitaburu ni," "hitaburu ni" means "wholeheartedly, single-mindedly."
The third line, "somukaneba," means "since I do not turn away." "Ne" is the realis of the negative "zu," giving a cause with "ba." From here poems on turning from the world continue.
The fourth line, "mono omoishiranu," means "not knowing the way of things," lacking understanding and sensibility.
The last line, "mi to ya narinamu," closes the kakari-musubi of "ya" with the attributive form of the conjectural "mu." He fears being seen as one without understanding, his words at odds with his deeds.
- Author
- Kiyohara no Motosuke
- Source
- Shin Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Kurikaeshi waga mi no toga o motomureba kimi mo naki yo ni meguru narikeri
- Next Poem
-
Somukedomo ame no shita o shi hanareneba izuku ni mo furu namida narikeri