Namidagawa mi nagu bakari no fuchi wa aredo kōri tokeneba yuku kata mo nashi - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

涙川身投ぐばかりの淵はあれど
氷解けねば行く方もなし

Roma-ji: Namidagawa mi nagu bakari no fuchi wa aredo kōri tokeneba yuku kata mo nashi
English Translation: In my river of tears
there are pools deep enough
to cast myself in,
yet since the ice will not melt,
there is nowhere it can flow
Meaning: In the river of my tears there are pools deep enough to drown myself in, yet since the ice does not melt, there is nowhere for it to flow.
Commentary: Book Eight Winter Poems 494

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says that in the river of tears there are pools deep enough to drown oneself in, yet since the ice does not melt, it has nowhere to flow. Likening tears to a river, the poem conveys the pain of a love that, despite deep sorrow, can go nowhere because the beloved's heart, as if frozen, does not thaw.
Overlaying the ice of winter with the thoughts of love, it links tears and ice like the ice on the sleeves in 463 and 481 in this book.
The poet is listed as "anonymous," and the composer's name has not come down to us.

The first line, "Namidagawa," is a word likening flowing tears to a river.
The second line, "mi nagu bakari no," means "deep enough to cast oneself in," exaggerating the depth of the tears.
The third line, "fuchi wa aredo," means "though there are deep pools," with "do" a concessive particle.
The fourth line, "kōri tokeneba," means "since the ice does not melt," overlaying winter ice with the beloved's unyielding heart and the poet's blocked feelings.
The last line, "yuku kata mo nashi," means "there is nowhere to flow," expressing feelings that can find no outlet.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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