妹がため玉を拾ふと紀伊の国の
由良の岬にこの日暮らしつ
由良の岬にこの日暮らしつ
- Roma-ji
-
Imo ga tame tama o hiriu to ki no kuni no yura no misaki ni kono hi kurashitsu
- English Translation
-
For my darling's sake,
gathering the pretty stones,
in the land of Ki
on the cape of Yura,
I have spent this whole day long
- Meaning
- Gathering pretty stones for my beloved's sake, I have spent this whole day on the cape of Yura in the land of Kii.
- Commentary
-
Book Seven Miscellaneous Poems 1220
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed on Journeys"
Trying to gather lovely stones as a gift for his wife, the poet has spent the whole day on the cape of Yura in Kii. His absorption in gathering stones reveals the depth of his love for her.
It is one of the seven poems by Lord Fujiwara. The first line, "For my darling's sake," and the idea of gathering stones or shells are shared with poem 1145 in this book, and the last line, "I have spent this whole day," also appears in poem 1250.
The author, "Fujiwara-kyō," is an honorific title for a senior noble of the Fujiwara clan. He is said to be either Fujiwara no Fusasaki or Fujiwara no Maro, and there is no settled view as to whom it refers.
The first line, "For my darling's sake," is the same as the first line of poem 1145.
The second line, "gathering the pretty stones," states his purpose.
The third line, "in the land of Ki," names Kii Province.
The fourth line names the cape of Yura in Kii, present-day Yura Town in Wakayama.
In the final line, "tsu" is perfective: "I have spent this day." It is the same last line as poem 1250.
- Author
- Lord Fujiwara
- Source
- Manyoshu
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Waka no ura ni shiranami tachite okitsukaze samuki yūbe wa yamato shi omōyu
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Waga fune no kaji wa na hiki so yamato yori koikoshi kokoro imada akanaku ni