針袋帯び続けながら里ごとに
照らさひ歩けど人もとがめず
照らさひ歩けど人もとがめず
- Roma-ji
-
Haribukuro obi tsutsuke nagara sato goto ni terasai arukedo hito mo togamezu
- English Translation
-
The needle pouch
I keep wearing at my waist,
through each village
I go showing it off, but
no one even notices.
- Meaning
- I keep the needle pouch hanging at my waist and show it off in every village I pass, yet no one takes any notice.
- Commentary
-
Book Eighteen 4130
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Four playful poems sent by Ōtomo no Sukune Ikenushi, secretary of Echizen Province."
The poet says that he walks through every village with the needle pouch hanging at his waist, showing it off, yet no one pays any attention. This playful poem finds humor in wanting to boast of a fine gift that no one cares about, with an undertone of how much he treasures it.
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.
First line, "haribukuro": opening as the preceding poem does, it continues to sing of the gift.
Second line, "obi tsutsuke nagara": "while keeping it hung at my waist."
Third line, "sato goto ni": "in every village I go," showing how widely he parades it.
Fourth line, "terasai arukedo": "terasau" is thought to mean to show off; "do" is adversative.
Last line, "hito mo togamezu": "togamu" means to notice or pay attention, ending "no one notices." The gap between his wish to boast and everyone's indifference creates the humor.
- Author
- Ōtomo no Ikenushi
- Source
- Manyoshu
- Prev Poem
-
Haribukuro toriage mae ni oki kaesaeba ono tomo ono ya ura mo tsugitari
- Next Poem
-
Tori ga naku azuma o sashite fusaeshi ni yukamu to omoedo yoshi mo sane nashi