Shirakawa no shirazu tomo iwaji soko kiyomi nagarete yoyo ni sumamu to omoeba - Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

白川の知らずとも言はじ底清み
流れて世々にすまむと思へば

Roma-ji: Shirakawa no shirazu tomo iwaji soko kiyomi nagarete yoyo ni sumamu to omoeba
English Translation: Like the White River,
I will not say "I do not know you,"
for its bed is clear,
and flowing on through ages,
I mean to dwell with you, pure
Meaning: Like the White River whose name echoes "not knowing," I will never say I do not know you; for as its clear bed flows on and stays pure through the ages, I mean to live with you forever.
Commentary: Book Thirteen Love Poems III 666

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
Playing on the name of the Shirakawa, the poet vows never to say he does not know her, for as the river flows clear and pure through the ages, he means to live with her forever. With sumu punning on "run clear" and "dwell together," the pure flow of the river is overlaid with an unclouded, unchanging love. Amid poems of hidden love, it stands as a vow that does not conceal love.
The author, recorded as Taira no Sadafun, was a son of Taira no Yoshikaze, of the Kanmu Heishi line. He served as Assistant Captain of the Left Military Guards, and, known as Heichu, a famous lover, he is regarded as the hero of The Tales of Heichu. He is counted among the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals of the Middle Ages.
In contrast to Motokata's denial of the relationship in poem 630, "I shall say that I never knew you," this poem says "I will not say I do not know you," showing an attitude that does not hide the relationship.

The first line, "shirakawa no," names the Shirakawa flowing east of the capital, leading by sound into shirazu, "not knowing."
The second line, "shirazu tomo iwaji," means "I will not say I do not know," ending firmly with the negative volitional ji; it has eight syllables, one extra, with a pause after the second line.
The third line, "soko kiyomi," means "since its bed is clear," the suffix mi giving the reason.
The fourth line, "nagarete yoyo ni," means "flowing on forever," overlaying the river's flow with the flow of time.
The final line, "sumamu to omoeba," uses sumu as a pivot word for "run clear" and "dwell," giving the reason for the second line in inverted order. "Shirakawa," "bed," "clear," "flow," and "run clear" are associated words.
Author: Taira no Sadabumi
Source: Kokin Wakashu
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