人目守る我かはあやな花すすき
などかほに出でて恋ひずしもあらむ
などかほに出でて恋ひずしもあらむ
- Roma-ji
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Hitome moru ware ka wa ayana hanasusuki nado ka ho ni idete koizu shi mo aramu
- English Translation
-
Am I one to fear
the eyes of others? How absurd
like the pampas plumes
why should I not openly
show the love I feel
- Meaning
- Am I one to shrink from others' eyes? How absurd! Like pampas grass putting forth its plumes, why should I not love openly for all to see?
- Commentary
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Book Eleven Love Poems I 549
Headnote: "Topic unknown"
Defiantly declaring that he is not one to hide his love for fear of others' eyes, the poet resolves to love openly, as pampas grass puts forth its plumes. Pivoting ho ni izu, to put forth plumes, with appearing in plain view, it turns from hidden love to a strong heart that would make its love public. It contrasts with poem 547, two poems earlier, which sings of a love kept from view.
First line, "Am I one to fear": hitome moru means to watch for and shrink from others' eyes.
Second line, "the eyes of others? How absurd": ka wa is rhetorical, meaning "am I such a one? no." Ayana means absurd or unreasonable.
Third line, "like the pampas plumes": hanasusuki, pampas grass in plume, leads to ho ni idete in the fourth line. Obana in poem 497 of this book likewise entrusts love to the plumes of pampas grass.
Fourth line, "why should I not openly": ho is a pivot word meaning both the "plume" of the grass and "standing out" in view. It is the same pivot as ho ni koso in poem 547, two poems earlier; that poem sings of a love not shown, this one of a love shown openly, forming a contrast. The line has extra syllables.
Fifth line, "show the love I feel": koizu shi mo aramu means "could I refrain from loving?", answering nado ka in the fourth line as a rhetorical question.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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