ありはてぬ命待つ間のほどばかり
憂きことしげく思はずもがな
憂きことしげく思はずもがな
- Roma-ji
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Ari hatenu inochi matsu ma no hodo bakari uki koto shigeku omowazu mogana
- English Translation
-
This life cannot last;
while I wait for it to end,
for that little while,
I would rather not dwell so
on the bitter things of the world.
- Meaning
- For the short time I have left, waiting for this life that cannot last to end, I wish I did not have to brood so constantly on painful things.
- Commentary
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Book Eighteen Miscellaneous Poems II 965
Headnote: "Composed when I had been removed from office"
Like the previous poem, this was composed when the poet had been removed from office. He wishes that, at least for the brief time while he waits for his limited life to end, he need not keep brooding on painful things. It shows a wish, in the face of life's shortness, to spend what remains in peace.
The author, "Taira Sadafun," is Taira no Sadafun, of the Kanmu Heishi line and son of Taira no Yoshikaze, known as Heichū.
The first line, "this life cannot last," uses hatsu, "to do to the end": a life that will not go on to its fullest.
The second line, "while I wait for it to end," means waiting for death.
The third line, "for that little while," uses bakari to express extent.
The fourth line, "dwell so," renders shigeku, "constantly, in great number."
The last line, "I would rather not," uses the wish particle mogana.
- Author
- Taira no Sadabumi
- Source
- Kokin Wakashu
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