Koi to ieba usuki koto nari shikaredomo ware wa wasureji koi wa shinu tomo

恋と言へば薄きことなりしかれども
我れは忘れじ恋ひは死ぬとも

Roma-ji: Koi to ieba usuki koto nari shikaredomo ware wa wasureji koi wa shinu tomo
English Translation: When you call it love,
it sounds a shallow thing,
and yet, even so,
I will never forget you,
though I die of longing
Meaning: Called "love," it sounds a shallow, common thing; yet I will never forget, even if I die of longing.
Commentary: Book Twelve Expressing Thoughts Directly 2939

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Expressing Thoughts Directly"
The poet vows that, although the word "love" makes it sound common and shallow, these feelings are not so and will not be forgotten even in death. Aware of the gap between word and experience, the poem forcefully states the depth of feeling.
The poet is unknown. Book Twelve, titled the second part of "Love Poems Exchanged Old and New," gathers love poems by people whose names have not come down to us, arranged by category.

Line one, "koi to ieba," means "if one calls it love."
Line two, "usuki koto nari," means "it is a shallow thing," and the poem pauses here.
Line three, "shikaredomo," means "and yet."
Line four, "ware wa wasureji," means "I will not forget," with "ji" expressing negative intention.
Line five, "koi wa shinu tomo," means "even if I die of longing." Poem 3080 in this book ends with the same line.
Author: Unknown
Source: Manyoshu
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