春の池の玉藻に遊ぶにほ鳥の
足のいとなき恋もするかな
足のいとなき恋もするかな
- Roma-ji
-
Haru no ike no tamamo ni asobu niodori no ashi no itonaki koi mo suru kana
- English Translation
-
On the pond in spring,
playing among the jewel-weed,
the little grebe's feet
never resting, so is this
love of mine that knows no rest
- Meaning
- Like the grebe at play among the fair waterweeds of the spring pond, its feet never resting beneath the water, so I too am caught in a love that gives me no rest.
- Commentary
-
Book Two Spring Poems II 72
Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet likens a love that allows no rest to the grebe swimming among the waterweeds of a spring pond, its feet paddling ceaselessly beneath the surface. Behind the seemingly leisurely bird lies a constant busyness, which the poet lays over the hidden torment of love.
The poet, Miyaji no Takakaze, was of the Miyaji clan, but little is known of his career.
The first line, "Haru no ike no," has six syllables, one more than the norm, and presents a tranquil spring pond.
In the second line, "tamamo" is an elegant word for waterweed, showing the bird swimming and playing among it.
The third line, "niodori no," names the grebe, a bird skilled at diving. The first three lines form a preface leading to "ashi no itonaki."
In the fourth line, "itonashi" means having no leisure, describing the grebe's feet paddling unseen.
In the last line, "kana" expresses a sigh: "I am in a love that leaves no rest." Following the exchange of love poems in 70 and 71 of this book, another love poem is placed here.
- Author
- Miyaji no Takakaze
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Waga tame ni omowanu yama no oto ni nomi hana sakariyuku haru o uramimu
- Next Poem
-
Yamakaze no hana no ka kadou fumoto ni wa haru no kasumi zo hodashi nari keru