かきくらす心の闇に惑ひにき
夢うつつとは世人定めよ
夢うつつとは世人定めよ
- Roma-ji
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Kakikurasu kokoro no yami ni madoiniki yume utsutsu to wa yohito sadame yo
- English Translation
-
In the darkness
of a heart all clouded over
I too lost my way;
whether it was dream or waking,
let the people of the world decide
- Meaning
- I too was lost in the pitch darkness of my clouded heart; whether it was a dream or reality, let the people of the world decide.
- Commentary
-
Book Thirteen Love Poems III 646
Headnote: "Reply."
This is Narihira's reply to the Priestess's poem in the preceding entry. Asked whether it was dream or reality, he answers that he too is lost in the darkness of love and cannot tell; let the world decide. Receiving her question while confessing the same bewilderment, it joins the hearts of two people drowning in a forbidden love.
The author, recorded as Narihira Ason, is Ariwara no Narihira. He was the fifth son of Prince Abo and is counted among the Six Poetic Immortals and the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals.
In section 69 of The Tales of Ise, the last line reads "decide it tonight," becoming an invitation to meet again and find out.
The first line, "kakikurasu," from "to darken the sky," expresses a heart gone completely dark.
The second line, "kokoro no yami ni," refers to the darkness of a heart that has lost its judgment in love.
The third line, "madoiniki," means "I have lost my way," closing firmly with the perfective nu and past ki, with a pause after the third line.
The fourth line, "yume utsutsu to wa," takes up "dream or reality" from the preceding poem: "as for whether it was dream or reality."
The final line, "yohito sadame yo," means "let the people of the world decide," ending with a brusque imperative.
- Author
- Ariwara no Narihira
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
- Prev Poem
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Kimi ya koshi ware ya yukikemu omoezu yume ka utsutsu ka nete ka samete ka
- Next Poem
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Mubatama no yami no utsutsu wa sadaka naru yume ni ikura mo masarazarikeri