Seki koyuru michi to wa nashi ni chika nagara toshi ni sawarite haru o matsu kana - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

関越ゆる道とはなしに近ながら
年にさはりて春を待つかな

Roma-ji: Seki koyuru michi to wa nashi ni chika nagara toshi ni sawarite haru o matsu kana
English Translation: Though it is no road
where a barrier must be crossed,
and so very near,
held back by the year,
how I wait for the spring
Meaning: Though it is no road through a barrier gate, and spring is close at hand, I wait for it, held back by the year.
Commentary: Book Eight Winter Poems 505

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says that though it is no road through a barrier gate, and spring is close at hand, he waits for it, held back by the year. The frustration that spring, so near, will not come until the year turns is likened to a journey blocked by a barrier gate.
Like 498 in this book, it sings of awaiting spring. Within the year's-end sequence, it sings of waiting for spring held back by the year as by a barrier gate.
The poet is listed as "anonymous," and the composer's name has not come down to us.

The first line, "Seki koyuru," means "crossing a barrier gate."
The second line, "michi to wa nashi ni," means "though it is no such road."
The third line, "chika nagara," means "though so near," referring to spring close at hand.
The fourth line, "toshi ni sawarite," means "held back by the year," likening the year to a barrier gate.
In the last line, "kana" is an exclamatory particle: "how I wait for spring." It uses the same words as "haru o matsuran," which closes 498 in this book.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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