心には思ひわたれどよしをなみ
外のみにして嘆きぞ我がする
外のみにして嘆きぞ我がする
- Roma-ji
-
Kokoro ni wa omoiwataredo yoshi o nami yoso nomi ni shite nageki zo waga suru
- English Translation
-
In my heart of hearts
I go on and on in thought,
yet with no means found,
only seeing from afar,
all I do is heave my sighs
- Meaning
- In my heart I go on thinking of you, but with no means to meet, I can only look from afar and sigh.
- Commentary
-
Book Four Love Poems 714
Headnote: "Seven poems sent by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi to a maiden"
This is the first of seven poems Yakamochi sent to a maiden. In his heart he goes on thinking of her, but with no way to meet, he can only look from afar and sigh.
The author, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was the son of Ōtomo no Tabito and a poet thought to have been deeply involved in compiling the Man'yōshū. He later rose to the rank of Middle Counselor.
First line, "In my heart of hearts," means in my heart.
Second line, "I go on and on in thought," means though I keep thinking of you.
Third line, "yet with no means found," uses o ... mi for a reason: since there is no way.
Fourth line, "only seeing from afar," means only at a distance.
Fifth line, "all I do is heave my sighs," closes zo with the attributive suru: it is I who sigh.
- Author
- Otomo no Yakamochi
- Source
- Manyoshu
- Prev Poem
-
Kakiho nasu hitogoto kikite waga seko ga kokoro tayutai awanu kono koro
- Next Poem
-
Chidori naku saho no kawato no kiyoki se o uma uchiwatashi itsu ka kayowamu