青柳のいとつれなくもなりゆくか
いかなる筋に思ひよらまし
いかなる筋に思ひよらまし
- Roma-ji
-
Aoyagi no ito tsurenaku mo nariyuku ka ika naru suji ni omoiyoramashi
- English Translation
-
Like the green willow's
threads, you grow so very cold,
is that how it goes?
along what strand of thread then
should I twist my thoughts toward you?
- Meaning
- Like the green willow's threads, are you growing ever colder toward me? By what thread, what path, should I draw my heart near to you?
- Commentary
-
Book Two Spring Poems II 67
Headnote: "Sent to a woman."
Sent to a woman who was growing cold, the poem draws "ito" from the willow's threads and piles up words associated with thread, "suji" and "yoru," to ask by what means he might draw near to her, voicing his bewilderment.
According to the headnote, it was sent to a woman.
The poet, Fujiwara no Morotada, was the fifth son of Fujiwara no Tadahira. He rose to Minister of the Left and was called the Koichijō Minister of the Left.
The first line, "Aoyagi no," serves as a preface leading to "ito." 58 of this book also begins with "Aoyagi no," likening willow branches to threads.
In the second line, "ito" is a pivot word joining the willow's "threads" and "ito," very. "Tsurenaku" means cold and unfeeling.
In the third line, "ka" is a question tinged with a sigh, lamenting "are you growing cold?" The poem pauses here.
In the fourth line, "suji" layers the strand of a thread with a way or means, and is an associated word for "thread."
In the last line, "yora" is a pivot word joining "yoru," to twist thread, and "yoru," to draw near in thought. "Mashi" expresses hesitant intention, as he wonders what to do.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Morotada
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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