Kagamiyama iza tachiyorite mite yukamu toshi henuru mi wa oi ya shinuru to - Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

鏡山いざ立ち寄りて見てゆかむ
年経ぬる身は老いやしぬると

Roma-ji: Kagamiyama iza tachiyorite mite yukamu toshi henuru mi wa oi ya shinuru to
English Translation: Mount Kagami—
come, let me stop by the way
and take a look:
this body worn by the years,
has it grown old, I wonder?
Meaning: Mount Kagami, the Mirror Mountain: come, let me stop and look, to see whether this body worn by years has grown old.
Commentary: Book Seventeen Miscellaneous Poems I 899

Headnote: "Topic unknown"
Passing Mount Kagami in Ōmi, the speaker plays on its name, "mirror," resolving to check how far he has aged, as though looking into a mirror. Within the light play on the place name, concern about growing old shows through.
The author is given as unknown, but a left note says, "Someone says this poem is by Ōtomo no Kuronushi," attributing it to him. Kuronushi is said to have been from Shiga District in Ōmi and is one of the Six Poetic Immortals.

First line "kagamiyama" is a poetic place in Ōmi, whose name, "mirror," leads to the idea of reflection.
Second line "iza tachiyorite": iza is a word of urging oneself, "come."
Third line "mite yukamu" uses the volitional mu, "let me look," and the poem pauses here.
Fourth line "toshi henuru mi wa" uses the attributive of the perfective nu, a body on which years have piled.
Fifth line "oi ya shinuru to" closes the question particle ya with the attributive nuru, showing the wish to see whether he has aged. It stands in inversion with the third line.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Kokin Wakashu
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