玉梓の君が使の手折り来る
この秋萩は見れど飽かぬかも
この秋萩は見れど飽かぬかも
- Roma-ji
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Tamazusa no kimi ga tsukai no taorikuru kono akihagi wa miredo akanu ka mo
- English Translation
-
Jeweled catalpa,
your messenger has come here
bearing what he broke—
this autumn bush clover sprig,
though I gaze, I never tire.
- Meaning
- This autumn bush clover that your messenger broke off and brought to me—however long I gaze, I never tire of it.
- Commentary
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Book Ten Autumn Miscellaneous Poems 2111
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "On Flowers"
This poem praises the autumn bush clover that the beloved's messenger broke off and brought, saying one never tires of gazing at it. Along with the beauty of the clover, it carries feeling for the beloved who sent it. Like 2100 it ends with "miredo akanu ka mo," continuing the poems praising bush clover.
The first line, "tamazusa no," is a pillow word attached to "messenger," said to derive from messengers carrying catalpa staffs.
The second line, "your messenger," names the bearer.
The third line, "taorikuru," means broke off and brought.
The fourth line, "this autumn bush clover," marks the theme.
The last line, "miredo akanu ka mo," is the set phrase of praise, the same ending as 2100.
- Source
- Manyoshu
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