Yūgure wa kumo no keshiki o miru kara ni nagameji to omou kokoro koso tsuke - Shin Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

夕暮は雲のけしきを見るからに
ながめじと思ふ心こそつけ

Roma-ji: Yūgure wa kumo no keshiki o miru kara ni nagameji to omou kokoro koso tsuke
English Translation: In the evening, when
I look upon the clouds' aspect,
at once there arises
within my heart the resolve:
"I will not gaze and brood."
Meaning: At dusk, as soon as I see how the clouds look, there arises in my heart the resolve not to gaze out and brood.
Commentary: Book Eighteen Miscellaneous Poems III 1806

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown."
This is the first of the poems on dusk and the first of two by Izumi Shikibu. At dusk, the moment she sees the look of the clouds, the resolve arises not to gaze out and brood. Knowing that the evening clouds draw one into brooding, she warns her heart against looking.
The author, "Izumi Shikibu," was the daughter of Ōe no Masamune. She took her name from her marriage to Tachibana no Michisada, Governor of Izumi. Known for her love affairs with Prince Tametaka and Prince Atsumichi, she later served Jōtōmon-in Shōshi.

The first line, "yūgure wa," means "at dusk," taking up the dusk of the preceding poem.
The second line, "kumo no keshiki o," means "the look of the clouds." Evening clouds were held to stir brooding.
The third line, "miru kara ni," means "as soon as I see."
The fourth line, "nagameji to omou," means "thinking, 'I will not gaze and brood.'" "Ji" is an auxiliary of negative intention.
The last line, "kokoro koso tsuke," closes the kakari-musubi of "koso" with the realis "tsuke." It shows a heart that, knowing gazing leads to sorrow, raises the warning in advance.
Author: Izumi Shikibu
Source: Shin Kokin Wakashu
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