春の雨にありけるものを立ち隠り
妹が家道にこの日暮らしつ
妹が家道にこの日暮らしつ
- Roma-ji
-
Haru no ame ni arikeru mono o tachikakuri imo ga iechi ni kono hi kurashitsu
- English Translation
-
It was nothing more
than a drizzle of spring rain,
yet I sheltered there,
on the way to my love's house,
and let this whole day go by.
- Meaning
- It was only the spring rain, and yet I took shelter from it on the road to my beloved's house, and so spent this whole day.
- Commentary
-
Book Ten Spring Miscellaneous Poems 1877
Headnote: "On Rain"
This poem tells of taking shelter from the rain on the way to a beloved's house, only to realize, when the day had ended, that it was mere spring rain. Its headnote is "On Rain." Held up by nothing more than a light spring shower and spending the day without meeting, the poem conveys both chagrin and a wry smile at one's own hesitation. The spring rain sung in the flower group as what opens and scatters blossoms is here sung as what blocks the path of love.
The first line, "in the spring rain," is hypermetric.
In the second line, "arikeru mono o," "keri" marks realization and "mono o" is a conjunctive particle of contrast and exclamation, showing regret on realizing it was only spring rain.
The third line, "tachikakuri," means standing under cover to avoid the rain, that is, sheltering.
In the fourth line, "imo ga iechi ni," "iechi" means the road to a house, showing that the poet was on the way to his beloved's home.
In the last line, "kono hi kurashitsu," "tsu" marks completion, closing with a day spent to no purpose.
- Source
- Manyoshu
- Prev Poem
-
Asagasumi haruhi no kure wa ko no ma yori utsurou tsuki o itsu to ka matamu
- Next Poem
-
Ima yukite kiku mono ni mo ga asukagawa harusame furite tagitsu se no oto o