心がへするものにもが片恋は
苦しきものと人に知らせむ
苦しきものと人に知らせむ
- Roma-ji
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Kokorogae suru mono ni moga katakoi wa kurushiki mono to hito ni shirasemu
- English Translation
-
Would that hearts were things
we could trade with one another
then how painful
one-sided love can be
I would let you know
- Meaning
- If only hearts could be exchanged! Then I would let you know how painful one-sided love can be.
- Commentary
-
Book Eleven Love Poems I 540
Headnote: "Topic unknown"
The poem wishes that the poet could exchange hearts with the beloved and make the beloved feel the pain of one-sided love. It expresses, through the novel conceit of trading hearts, a wish tinged with love's resentment: to make the beloved taste exactly the suffering the poet feels.
First line, "Would that hearts were things": kokorogae means exchanging hearts.
Second line, "we could trade with one another": moga is a final particle of desire, meaning "if only it were possible." The poem pauses here.
Third line, "then how painful": katakoi wa means one-sided love.
Fourth line, "one-sided love can be": kurushiki mono to means "that it is painful."
Fifth line, "I would let you know": hito ni shirasemu means "I would let that person know," with mu expressing intention. It is the wish that by trading hearts the beloved would come to know firsthand the pain of the poet's one-sided love.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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Uchiwabite yobawamu koe ni yamabiko no kotaenu yama wa araji to zo omou
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Yoso ni shite koureba kurushi irehimo no onaji kokoro ni iza musubitemu