難波潟潮干のなごり飽くまでに
人の見る子を我れし羨しも
人の見る子を我れし羨しも
- Roma-ji
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Naniwagata shiohi no nagori aku made ni hito no miru ko o ware shi tomoshi mo
- English Translation
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Naniwa's tidal flats,
what the ebbing tide leaves there,
as one gazes full,
so do others gaze on her,
and how much I envy them
- Meaning
- As one gazes one's fill at the pools the ebbing tide leaves on the flats of Naniwa, so others gaze at her to their hearts' content, and how I envy them.
- Commentary
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Book Four Love Poems 533
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Two poems by Ōtomo no Sukune Sukunamaro"
With the pools and traces left by the ebbing tide on the flats of Naniwa as its preface, this poem envies others who may gaze at her to their hearts' content. It can also be read as a lament that the woman who went to serve at court in the preceding poem may now be seen freely by the people of the palace, while he cannot see her at all.
The author, Ōtomo no Sukunamaro, was according to the headnote's note the third son of Ōtomo no Yasumaro, the Saho Major Counselor, and a younger brother of Ōtomo no Tabito. He became the husband of Lady Sakanoue and father of her daughters, the elder and younger ladies of Sakanoue.
First line, "Naniwa's tidal flats," names the shore flats of Naniwa, known for the great rise and fall of the tide.
Second line, "what the ebbing tide leaves there," names nagori, the water and scenery left after the tide goes out; with the first line it forms a preface to "gazes full."
Third line, "as one gazes full," means to one's fill, to one's heart's content.
Fourth line, "so do others gaze on her," means the girl whom others see, one he himself may not see.
Fifth line, "and how much I envy them," uses the emphatic shi, tomoshi, "enviable," and the exclamatory mo: how I envy them.
- Author
- Ōtomo no Sukunamaro
- Source
- Manyoshu
- Prev Poem
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Uchihisasu miya ni yuku ko o makanashimi tomureba kurushi yareba sube nashi
- Next Poem
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Shikitae no tamakura makazu aida okite toshi zo henikeru awanaku omoeba