相思はずあるらむ君をあやしくも
嘆きわたるか人の問ふまで
嘆きわたるか人の問ふまで
- Roma-ji
-
Aiomowazu aruramu kimi o ayashiku mo nageki wataru ka hito no tou made
- English Translation
-
For you, who most likely
do not think of me at all,
strangely, all this while
I go on in sighing grief,
till people ask me why.
- Meaning
- Strangely, I go on sighing for you, who likely do not think of me at all—so much that people ask me what is wrong.
- Commentary
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Book Eighteen 4075
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Three poems sent by Ōtomo no Sukune Ikenushi, secretary of Echizen Province." "A poem of my heart."
The poet says he keeps sighing for his friend, who surely does not think of him, so much that people ask what is wrong. Borrowing the pattern of a love poem, he exaggerates his affection for Yakamochi, with a playful tone possible only between close friends.
Ōtomo no Ikenushi was a member of the Ōtomo clan who served as secretary of Etchū while Yakamochi was governor there, exchanging many poems and letters with him. At this time he had been transferred to the post of secretary of Echizen.
Yakamochi answered this poem with 4078, replying that it is he who suffers a longing beyond words.
First line, "aiomowazu": "not thinking of each other," that is, the other does not think of the poet.
Second line, "aruramu kimi o": "ramu" is the auxiliary of present conjecture, "you who must be so," guessing at the other's heart.
Third line, "ayashiku mo": "strangely," showing feelings so strong he himself cannot understand them.
Fourth line, "nageki wataru ka": "wataru" means to continue over time, and "ka" is exclamatory. The poem pauses after the fourth line.
Last line, "hito no tou made": "until people ask what is wrong." In inverted order, it shows that his grief is deep enough to show outwardly.
- Author
- Ōtomo no Ikenushi
- Source
- Manyoshu
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Sakurabana ima zo sakari to hito wa iedo ware wa sabushi mo kimi to shi araneba
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Ashihiki no yama wa naku mo ga tsuki mireba onajiki sato o kokoro hedatetsu