秋風の寒きこのころ下に着む
妹が形見とかつも偲はむ
妹が形見とかつも偲はむ
- Roma-ji
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Akikaze no samuki konokoro shita ni kimu imo ga katami to katsu mo shinowamu
- English Translation
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With the autumn wind
blowing cold in these days now,
I will wear it close,
as a keepsake of my love,
and so remember you as well
- Meaning
- In these days of cold autumn wind, I will wear it next to my skin, and as I do, I will remember you, taking it as your keepsake.
- Commentary
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Book Eight Autumn Love Poems 1626
Headnote: "A poem in reply, when she again took off the robe she wore and sent it to Yakamochi"
When the Elder Daughter of Sakanoue took off the robe she had been wearing and sent it, Yakamochi replies that in these cold autumn days he will wear it next to his skin and remember her by it as her keepsake. Sending a robe worn close to the body was a sign of deep affection, and he answers by wearing it against his own skin. The note dates this exchange to the ninth month of autumn, Tenpyō 11 (739).
The author, Ōtomo no Yakamochi, was a son of Ōtomo no Tabito and an official of the Nara period. He rose to the post of Middle Counselor, is thought to have been closely involved in compiling the Man'yōshū, and left more poems than anyone else in the anthology.
The first line names the cold autumn wind.
The second line means "in these cold days," giving the reason for wearing the robe.
The third line means "I will wear it as an undergarment, close to the skin," and the poem pauses here.
The fourth line means "as my love's keepsake."
In the final line, "katsu" means "at the same time," so that while wearing the robe against the cold he will also remember her, layering the two feelings.
- Author
- Otomo no Yakamochi
- Source
- Manyoshu
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