貫きとむる秋しなければ白露の
千草に置ける玉もかひなし
千草に置ける玉もかひなし
- Roma-ji
-
Nukitomuru aki shi nakereba shiratsuyu no chigusa ni okeru tama mo kai nashi
- English Translation
-
Since there is no autumn
that could string them and hold them fast,
the white dew's jewels
laid upon a thousand grasses
are all for nothing, in the end
- Meaning
- Since no autumn can thread them and hold them fast, the white dew's jewels laid on the thousand grasses are all in vain.
- Commentary
-
Book Six Autumn Poems II 335
Headnote: "Composed on dew."
The poet says that since there is no autumn to thread the jewels of dew and hold them fast, the fine jewels the white dew lays on the many grasses are all in vain. As the passing autumn cannot be held back, the jewels of dew cannot be kept either, and the poet regrets it.
According to the headnote, it was composed on the topic of dew. Its conceit accords with "tsuranuki tomenu tama zo chirikeru" in 308 of this book, overlaying the dew jewels that cannot be fastened with the passing autumn.
The poet, Fujiwara no Kiyotada, was a son of Fujiwara no Kanesuke, the Embankment Middle Counselor, and served as governor of Kii among other posts. He is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.
The first line, "Nukitomuru," means "to thread and hold fast." It uses the same word as "tsuranuki tomenu" in the fourth line of 308 in this book.
In the second line, "shi" is an intensive particle: "since there is no autumn."
The third line, "shiratsuyu no," means "of the white dew."
The fourth line, "chigusa ni okeru," means "laid on the many grasses," recalling "chigusa no iro" in 310 of this book.
The last line, "tama mo kai nashi," means "the jewels too are in vain," expressing the futility of being unable to keep the dew jewels.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Kiyotada
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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