ぬばたまの夜霧に隠り遠くとも
妹が伝へは早く告げこそ
妹が伝へは早く告げこそ
- Roma-ji
-
Nubatama no yogiri ni komori tōku tomo imo ga tsute wa hayaku tsuge koso
- English Translation
-
Black as leopard-seeds,
in the night mist though she's hid
and though far away,
any message from my love
quickly, quickly let me know.
- Meaning
- Even though she is far away, hidden in the night mist, bring me word from my wife quickly.
- Commentary
-
Book Ten Autumn Miscellaneous Poems 2008
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Tanabata"
This poem, in the Herdsman's voice, asks that any message from the Weaver be sent quickly, even though she is far away and hidden in the night mist. It shows the urgency of seeking a meeting of hearts through words across an unseen distance. Following 1998 and 2006, poems about sending words recur within the series.
Kakinomoto no Hitomaro was a court poet of the Asuka period, active under Empress Jitō and Emperor Monmu. The left note records that this poem comes from the Kakinomoto no Hitomaro Collection, and it is uncertain whether it is Hitomaro's own work or a poem by someone else that he recorded.
The first line, "nubatama no," is a pillow word attached to "night."
The second line, "hidden in the night mist," describes her concealment.
In the third line, "tōku tomo," "tomo" marks a concessive supposition: though far away.
The fourth line, "my wife's message," names what is awaited.
In the last line, "hayaku tsuge koso," "koso" is a particle of wishing: let me know quickly.
- Author
- Kakinomoto no Hitomaro
- Source
- Manyoshu
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