偽りも似つきてぞするうつしくも
まこと我妹子我れに恋ひめや
まこと我妹子我れに恋ひめや
- Roma-ji
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Itsuwari mo nitsukite zo suru utsushiku mo makoto wagimoko ware ni koime ya
- English Translation
-
Even lies are told
so they seem to fit the truth;
really and in earnest,
truly now, my dearest one,
could you long for such as me
- Meaning
- Even lies are told to sound plausible; do you, my love, truly and in earnest long for me?
- Commentary
-
Book Four Love Poems 771
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Five poems sent by Ōtomo no Sukune Yakamochi from the Kuni capital to the Elder Daughter of Sakanoue"
Doubting her words of love, he says that even lies are told plausibly; does she truly long for him?
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, "Even lies are told," means falsehoods too.
Second line, "so they seem to fit the truth," means they are made to seem fitting; the poem breaks after this line.
Third line, "really and in earnest," means truly, in one's right mind.
Fourth line, "truly now, my dearest one," means really, my beloved.
Fifth line, "could you long for such as me," uses the rhetorical meya: would you love me? Surely not.
- Author
- Otomo no Yakamochi
- Source
- Manyoshu
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