Chigirikemu koto no ha ima wa kaeshitemu toshi no watari ni yorinuru mono o - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

契りけむ言の葉今は返してむ
年の渡りに寄りぬるものを

Roma-ji: Chigirikemu koto no ha ima wa kaeshitemu toshi no watari ni yorinuru mono o
English Translation: The words that once, it seems,
we pledged to one another,
now let me return—
for we have drawn up only
to the once-a-year crossing
Meaning: The words of our vows I will now give back—for we have come to the once-a-year crossing, and nothing more.
Commentary: Book Five Autumn Poems I 236

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says she will now give back the words of their former vows, since their bond has become one that touches only at the once-a-year crossing. Likening a relationship in which visits have grown rare to the Tanabata lovers who meet only once a year, she fills the poem with reproach.
The poet is listed as "anonymous," and the composer's name has not come down to us.

In the first line, "kemu" expresses past hearsay or conjecture: "that we once, it seems, pledged."
The second line, "koto no ha ima wa," means "the words, now."
In the third line, "te" is intensive and "mu" expresses intent: "let me give them back." The poem pauses here.
The fourth line, "toshi no watari ni," means "to the yearly crossing," using the same words as "toshi no watari" in 234 of this book.
In the last line, "mono o" is a conjunctive particle tinged with exclamation, here giving a reason: "since it has come only to that." "Yoru," to draw near, is an associated word of "watari," suggesting a boat drawing up to the shore. It stands in inversion with the third line.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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