つれなきを今は恋ひじと思へども
心弱くも落つる涙か
心弱くも落つる涙か
- Roma-ji
-
Tsurenaki o ima wa koiji to omoedomo kokoro yowaku mo otsuru namida ka
- English Translation
-
One so cold to me
I now think I'll love no more,
and yet, how weakly
my poor heart gives way to tears
that come falling down again
- Meaning
- I tell myself I will no longer love someone so cold, and yet how weakly my heart gives way, as the tears come falling down.
- Commentary
-
Book Fifteen Love Poems V 809
Headnote: "A poem from the poetry contest held at the Empress's palace in the reign of the Kanpyō emperor."
This poem was presented at a poetry contest held at the palace of the empress, Princess Hanshi, in the Kanpyō era of Emperor Uda. Though resolved no longer to love someone cold, the speaker's weak heart lets tears fall, capturing the gap between will and feeling.
The author, "Sugano no Tadaon," is Sugano no Tadaon, about whom little is known.
The first line, "one who is cold," names the person he loves.
In the second line ji expresses negative intent: I will no longer love.
In the third line domo is concessive: though I think so.
The fourth line, "how weak of heart," adds a note of exclamation with mo.
In the last line ka is exclamatory: tears that fall. He watches tears that flow against his resolve.
- Author
- Sugano no Tadaon
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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