常よりものどけかるべき春なれば
光に人の逢はざらめやは
光に人の逢はざらめやは
- Roma-ji
-
Tsune yori mo nodokekaru beki haru nareba hikari ni hito no awazarame ya wa
- English Translation
-
Since this is a spring
that should be calmer than
at other times,
how could a person fail
to meet with its bright light?
- Meaning
- Since this spring should be calmer and longer than usual, how could anyone fail to be touched by its light?
- Commentary
-
Book Three Spring Poems III 136
Headnote: "Reply."
To Ki no Tsurayuki, who in the preceding poem entrusted his hope for office to the wish to meet with spring, the Minister replies encouragingly: since this spring is calmer than usual, how could he fail to meet with its light? The light of the spring sun is overlaid with the favor he bestows as a statesman.
It forms an exchange with the preceding poem, 135.
The poet, written as "Satainjin" in the text, is Fujiwara no Tadahira; "Satainjin" means the Minister of the Left. The fourth son of Fujiwara no Mototsune, he served as Minister of the Left and Chancellor and became Regent. He was a patron of Ki no Tsurayuki and other poets.
The first line, "Tsune yori mo," means "more than usual," showing that the intercalary month has lengthened spring. 107 and 118 of this book also begin with "Tsune yori mo."
The second line, "nodokekaru beki," means "which should be calm." 92 of this book also sings of the calm of spring with "nodokeki."
The third line, "haru nareba," means "since it is spring," giving the reason.
In the fourth line, "hikari," light, is the light of the spring sun and also carries the sense of favor and authority.
In the last line, "ya wa" is rhetorical: "how could one fail to meet it? Surely one will." Answering "au yoshi mogana" of the preceding poem, 135, he assures Tsurayuki that his hope will be fulfilled.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Tadahira
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Amari sae arite yuku beki toshi dani mo haru ni kanarazu au yoshi mogana
- Next Poem
-
Kimi kozute toshi wa kureniki tachikaeri haru sae kyō ni narinikeru kana