Akenu tote ima wa no kokoro tsuku kara ni nado iishiranu omoi souramu - Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

明けぬとて今はの心つくからに
など言ひ知らぬ思ひ添ふらむ

Roma-ji: Akenu tote ima wa no kokoro tsuku kara ni nado iishiranu omoi souramu
English Translation: Saying it is dawn,
as soon as the thought arises,
"now we must part,"
why does a feeling beyond words
swell up within my heart
Meaning: The moment the dawn tells me "now we must part," why does this longing I cannot put into words come welling up?
Commentary: Book Thirteen Love Poems III 638

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet asks why, the moment it dawns and he realizes they must part, an inexpressible longing wells up. It captures the movement of the heart at the instant the hour of parting is recognized, framed as a question of cause.
The author, recorded as Fujiwara no Kunitsune Ason, was the eldest son of Fujiwara no Nagara and an elder full brother of Fujiwara no Mototsune. He rose to Major Counselor.

The first line, "akenu tote," means "saying that it has dawned." The next poem also opens with "akenu tote," and the two are placed side by side.
The second line, "ima wa no kokoro," means "the feeling that now is the time to part."
The third line, "tsuku kara ni," means "as soon as that feeling arises," with kara ni meaning "no sooner than."
The fourth line, "nado iishiranu," means "why, beyond words," the interrogative nado answering ramu in the last line.
The final line, "omoi souramu," means "why does longing add itself," closing with ramu, conjecturing the cause.
Author: Fujiwara no Kunitsune
Source: Kokin Wakashu
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