うちひさす都の人に告げまくは
見し日のごとくありと告げこそ
見し日のごとくありと告げこそ
- Roma-ji
-
Uchihisasu miyako no hito ni tsugemaku wa mishi hi no gotoku ari to tsugekoso
- English Translation
-
To the people there
in the sun-drenched capital
this is what I'd say:
"Just as on the day you saw me
I am well"—please tell them so
- Meaning
- What I would have you tell the people of the bright capital is this: that I am just as well as on the day they last saw me.
- Commentary
-
Book Twenty Miscellaneous Poems 4473
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "On the eighth day, the Governor of Sanuki, Prince Asukabe, and others gathered at the house of Asukabe no Nadomaro, secretary of Izumo, for a banquet; two poems."
What I would have you tell the people of the capital is that I am well, just as on the day they saw me: the poem entrusts a message to Nadomaro, bound for the capital. The left note says it is by Prince Yamashiro, Governor of Izumo. The host, Asukabe no Nadomaro, related that when he was appointed delegate and about to enter the capital, each person composed a poem on the day of his send-off to express their feelings. A governor serving in the provinces wishes those in the capital to know he is well.
The author, Prince Yamashiro, was a son of Prince Nagaya; his mother was a daughter of Fujiwara no Fuhito. At this time he was Governor of Izumo. He later received the surname Fujiwara and was called Fujiwara no Otosada.
The first line, "uchihisasu," is a pillow word for "capital."
The second line, "miyako no hito ni," "to the people of the capital," refers to Yamashiro's family and friends.
The third line, "tsugemaku wa," "what I would tell," uses maku, a nominal form of mu.
The fourth line, "mishi hi no gotoku," "as on the day you saw me," means unchanged.
The closing line, "ari to tsugekoso," uses the wishing particle koso: please tell them I am well. "Tell" is repeated in the third and fifth lines.
- Author
- Prince Yamashiro
- Source
- Manyoshu
- Prev Poem
-
Ōkimi no mikoto kashikomi Ō no ura o sogai ni mitsutsu miyako e noboru
- Next Poem
-
Muratori no asadachi inishi kimi ga ue wa sayaka ni kikitsu omoishi gotoku