秋風はすごく吹けども葛の葉の
うらみ顔には見えじとぞ思ふ
うらみ顔には見えじとぞ思ふ
- Roma-ji
-
Akikaze wa sugoku fukedomo kuzu no ha no uramigao ni wa mieji to zo omou
- English Translation
-
Though the autumn wind
blows fierce and chill, I think
I shall not let it see
a face like kudzu leaves
turned over in resentment.
- Meaning
- Though the autumn wind blows fierce and cold, I mean not to show a resentful face, like kudzu leaves turned to show their undersides.
- Commentary
-
Book Eighteen Miscellaneous Poems III 1821
Headnote: "Reply."
This is the fourth of the poems expressing thoughts through plants and trees, a reply to the preceding poem. Though the autumn wind blows fiercely, she means not to show a resentful face like kudzu leaves turned over. Taking up the kudzu of the preceding poem, she says she will show no bitterness at her husband's coldness.
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, "akikaze wa," takes up "the wind that flips the kudzu" in the preceding poem, a figure for her husband's cold heart.
The second line, "sugoku fukedomo," means "though it blows fiercely." "Domo" is concessive.
The third line, "kuzu no ha no," takes over the "kudzu" of the preceding poem's last line.
In the fourth line, "uramigao ni wa," "urami" is a pivot word meaning both the kudzu leaves showing their undersides and "resentment."
The last line, "mieji to zo omou," closes the kakari-musubi of "zo" with the attributive "omou." "Ji" expresses negative intention, showing her pride and restraint in refusing to show a resentful face.
- Author
- Izumi Shikibu
- Source
- Shin Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Utsurowade shibashi Shinoda no mori o miyo kaeri mo zo suru kuzu no urakaze
- Next Poem
-
Ozasahara kaze matsu tsuyu no kieyarazu kono hitofushi o omoioku kana