Yaemugura kokoro no uchi ni fukakereba hanami ni yukamu idetachi mo sezu - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

八重むぐら心の内に深ければ
花見に行かむ出で立ちもせず

Roma-ji: Yaemugura kokoro no uchi ni fukakereba hanami ni yukamu idetachi mo sezu
English Translation: Like eightfold creepers
growing thick within my heart,
deep my gloom has grown,
and to go and see the flowers
I cannot even set out
Meaning: The tangled creepers have grown so thick within my heart that I cannot even bring myself to set out to see the flowers.
Commentary: Book Three Spring Poems III 140

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Reply."
The poet replies that tangled creepers have grown so thick in his heart that he cannot even set out to see the flowers. Likening the gloom in his heart to the creepers that cover a neglected house, he explains why they could not view the flowers together.
137 and 138 were sent by Fujiwara no Masatada to Ki no Tsurayuki, and 139 and 140 are Tsurayuki's replies.
The poet, called "Tsurayuki," is Ki no Tsurayuki. A son of Ki no Mochiyuki, he was the leading compiler of the Kokin Wakashū and wrote its kana preface. He served as governor of Tosa among other posts, is known as the author of the Tosa Diary, and is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.

The first line, "Yaemugura," names creepers growing in thick layers, an image of a neglected house. The headnote of 89 of this book also mentions "a ruined place."
The second line, "kokoro no uchi ni," means "within my heart," showing the creepers growing there, that is, his heart weighed down.
The third line, "fukakereba," means "since they have grown so deep," giving the reason.
The fourth line, "hanami ni yukamu," takes up "hana o mo mime to" of 138. Whereas 112 of this book sings of a heart setting out to view the flowers, this poem sings of a heart that cannot even set out, forming a reversed picture.
The last line, "idetachi mo sezu," means "I do not even get ready to go," stating his gloom outright.
Author: Ki no Tsurayuki
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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