Nagare izuru kata dani mienu namidagawa oki himu toki ya soko wa shiraremu - Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

流れいづる方だに見えぬ涙川
おきひむ時や底は知られむ

Roma-ji: Nagare izuru kata dani mienu namidagawa oki himu toki ya soko wa shiraremu
English Translation: Even where it springs
from cannot be seen at all—
this river of tears:
only when its depths run dry
will its bottom then be known?
Meaning: This river of tears, whose very source cannot be seen—will its bottom be known only when the open waters have run dry?
Commentary: Book Ten Names of Things 466

Headnote: "Embers"
This poem wonders whether the river of tears, whose source cannot even be seen, will reveal its depths only when its open waters dry up. The title "okibi" (embers) is hidden in "oki himu" in the fourth line. Okibi means red-glowing charcoal embers. It is a love poem that likens endless tears to a river and sings of the depth of the heart, with charm in the contrast of hiding a fire title in a poem of water.
The poet, "Miyako no Yoshika," is Miyako no Yoshika. A scholar of Chinese learning who served as Professor of Letters, he excelled in Chinese poetry and prose.

First line "Nagare izuru" means "flowing forth," presenting the flow of the river of tears.
Second line "kata dani mienu" means "not even its source can be seen," with "dani" meaning "even."
Third line "namidagawa" is a word likening endlessly flowing tears to a river.
Fourth line "oki himu toki ya" means "when the open waters dry up." "Oki hi" hides the title "okibi" (embers). "Ya" is an interrogative particle.
Fifth line "soko wa shiraremu" closes in the attributive "mu" in answer to "ya," wondering whether the bottom of the heart will then be known.
Author: Miyako no Yoshika
Source: Kokin Wakashu
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