うれしきを何に包まむ唐衣
たもとゆたかに裁てと言はましを
たもとゆたかに裁てと言はましを
- Roma-ji
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Ureshiki o nani ni tsutsumamu karakoromo tamoto yutaka ni tate to iwamashi o
- English Translation
-
This joy of mine—
in what shall I wrap it up?
A Chinese robe
with sleeves cut wide and ample:
had I only asked for that!
- Meaning
- In what shall I wrap this joy? If only I had asked for my Chinese robe to be made with wide, ample sleeves.
- Commentary
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Book Seventeen Miscellaneous Poems I 865
Headnote: "Topic unknown"
An overflowing joy that cannot be held is expressed as regret for not having had one's sleeves cut wide. Treating happiness as if it were a thing to be wrapped is charming, and the poem is well known as one for festive occasions. The author is unknown.
Following the preceding poem, 864, on the pleasure of gathering, this poem takes joy itself as its theme. The idea of wrapping joy in one's sleeve long remained a phrase for offering congratulations.
First line "ureshiki o" uses the attributive form of the adjective as a noun, treating joy as an object to be wrapped.
Second line "nani ni tsutsumamu" is a self-question with the auxiliary mu that stresses the size of the joy; the poem pauses here.
Third line "karakoromo" is a fine robe in the Chinese style, pairing with the "Chinese brocade" of the preceding poem so that two poems on cloth stand side by side.
Fourth line "tamoto yutaka ni" means with sleeves wide and loose, imagining sleeves large enough to hold the joy.
Fifth line "tate to iwamashi o" joins the counterfactual auxiliary mashi and the particle o, expressing regret: "if only I had told them to cut it so."
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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