世の中の苦しきものにありけらし
恋にあへずて死ぬべき思へば
恋にあへずて死ぬべき思へば
- Roma-ji
-
Yo no naka no kurushiki mono ni arikerashi koi ni aezute shinubeki omoeba
- English Translation
-
Of all things on earth,
this must be the hardest one,
so it seems to me,
when I think that I must die,
unable to bear this love
- Meaning
- Love must be the most painful thing in all the world, when I think that I may die, unable to bear it.
- Commentary
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Book Four Love Poems 738
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Two poems sent to Yakamochi by the same Elder Daughter"
When she thinks she may die, unable to bear her love, love seems to her the most painful thing in the world. In contrast to the firm vow of the preceding poem, this one looks at the pain of love itself.
The author, Ōtomo no Sakanoue no Ōiratsume, was the daughter of Ōtomo no Sukunamaro and Lady Sakanoue, and later became Ōtomo no Yakamochi's principal wife.
First line, "Of all things on earth," means of this world.
Second line, "this must be the hardest one," means a painful thing.
Third line, "so it seems to me," uses kerashi, a past inference: it seems to be. The poem breaks after this line.
Fourth line, "when I think that I must die," means unable to endure love.
Fifth line, "unable to bear this love," means when I think I may die, giving the reason by inversion.
- Author
- Ōtomo no Sakanoue no Ōiratsume
- Source
- Manyoshu
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