Hikari matsu eda ni kakareru tsuyu no inochi kiehatene to ya haru no tsurenaki - Shin Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

光待つ枝にかかれる露の命
消えはてねとや春のつれなき

Roma-ji: Hikari matsu eda ni kakareru tsuyu no inochi kiehatene to ya haru no tsurenaki
English Translation: Hanging from a branch
waiting for the light to come,
this dewdrop life—
is spring so cold because it
would have me fade away?
Meaning: My life is a dewdrop on a branch waiting for the light; is spring so cold because it would have me vanish altogether?
Commentary: Book Eighteen Miscellaneous Poems III 1818

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
This is the first of the poems expressing thoughts through plants and trees. His life is like a dewdrop on a branch awaiting the light, yet spring is cold; does it wish him to vanish altogether? It is read as likening spring light to his lord's favor, lamenting that he cannot bask in it. The headnote gives no topic, and the circumstances of composition are not recorded.
The author, "Nishinomiya Former Minister of the Left," is Minamoto no Takaakira. A son of Emperor Daigo, he was made a commoner and rose to Minister of the Left, but in the Anna Incident was demoted to Provisional Governor-General of Dazaifu. He is called by this name because he had his mansion at Nishinomiya.

The first line, "hikari matsu," means "waiting for the light." The light is spring sunshine, standing for favor.
The second line, "eda ni kakareru," means "hanging on a branch." "Ru" is the attributive of the continuative "ri." From the spider's web of the preceding poem, it moves to dew hanging on a branch.
The third line, "tsuyu no inochi," is a life as fleeting as dew. It has six syllables, one over the norm.
The fourth line, "kiehatene to ya," means "does it bid me vanish altogether?" "Ne" is the imperative of the perfective "nu," and "ya" a particle of question.
The last line, "haru no tsurenaki," closes the kakari-musubi of "ya" with the attributive form of the adjective "tsurenaki." In spring's coldness toward the dew awaiting light, it shows the grief of one denied favor.
Author: Minamoto no Takaakira
Source: Shin Kokin Wakashu
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