命とて露を頼むにかたければ
物わびしらに鳴く野辺の虫
物わびしらに鳴く野辺の虫
- Roma-ji
-
Inochi tote tsuyu o tanomu ni katakereba mono wabishira ni naku nobe no mushi
- English Translation
-
As their lifeline
to rely upon the dew
is hard indeed—
so forlorn and desolate
cry the insects of the fields.
- Meaning
- Because it is so hard to rely on the dew as the thread of their lives, the insects of the fields cry out in such lonely, forlorn voices.
- Commentary
-
Book Ten Names of Things 451
Headnote: "Bitter bamboo"
This poem says that because relying on dew to sustain life is so hard, the insects of the fields cry in forlorn voices. The title "nigatake" (bitter bamboo) is hidden in "ni katake" across the second and third lines. It entrusts to the voices crying in the autumn fields the fragility of insects whose lives depend on dew.
The poet, "Shigeharu," is Ariwara no Shigeharu. The second son of Ariwara no Narihira, he was also called Zaiji no Kimi.
First line "Inochi tote" means "as the thing that sustains life."
Second line "tsuyu o tanomu ni" means "in relying on the dew," and the title begins with the final "ni."
Third line "katakereba" means "because it is hard," giving the reason. With the second line, "ni katake" hides the title "nigatake."
Fourth line "mono wabishira ni" means "in such a lonely, forlorn way."
Fifth line "naku nobe no mushi" ends on a noun, leaving a vivid picture of insects crying in the autumn fields.
- Author
- Ariwara no Shigeharu
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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