あしひきの岩根こごしみ菅の根を
引かばかたみと標のみぞ結ふ
引かばかたみと標のみぞ結ふ
- Roma-ji
-
Ashihiki no iwane kogoshimi suga no ne o hikaba katami to shime nomi zo yuu
- English Translation
-
Foot-weary mountains,
the rocks are so rough and steep,
the sedge's deep root,
hard to pull, and so for now
I but tie a marking rope.
- Meaning
- The rocks are so rugged that pulling up the sedge by its roots would be hard—so for now I only tie a rope to mark it as mine.
- Commentary
-
Book Three Allegorical Poems 414
Headnote: "A poem by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi"
This poem belongs to the section of Allegorical Poems in Book Three. It closes the section of Allegorical Poems in Book Three. Since the rocks are rough and steep, pulling up the sedge by the roots would be difficult, so for now he only ties a marking rope to show it is his. It is read as an allegory: because circumstances around his beloved are difficult and he cannot yet fulfill his love, he will for now only exchange a pledge.
The poet, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was a son of Ōtomo no Tabito and a Nara-period official. He served as Governor of Etchū and of Inaba, among other posts, rose to Middle Counselor, and died in Enryaku 4 (785). He is thought to have been deeply involved in compiling the Man'yōshū.
First line "Foot-weary mountains" renders ashihiki no, a pillow word for "mountain"; here "mountain" is omitted and it leads to "rocks."
Second line "the rocks are so rough and steep": iwane are great rooted rocks, kogoshi means rugged, and mi gives the cause.
Third line "the sedge's deep root" stands for his beloved.
Fourth line "hard to pull, and so for now": katami, from katashi with mi, means "since it is difficult."
Fifth line "I but tie a marking rope": zo is a binding particle concluded by the attributive yuu, ending with the thought of leaving only a sign for now.
- Author
- Otomo no Yakamochi
- Source
- Manyoshu
- Prev Poem
-
Suma no ama no shioyakiginu no fujigoromo madō ni shi areba imada kinarezu
- Next Poem
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Ie ni araba imo ga te makamu kusamakura tabi ni koyaseru kono tabito aware