Yo to tomo ni Abukumagawa no tōkereba soko naru kage o minu zo wabishiki - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

世とともにあふくま川の遠ければ
底なる影を見ぬぞわびしき

Roma-ji: Yo to tomo ni Abukumagawa no tōkereba soko naru kage o minu zo wabishiki
English Translation: Forever and ever
the River of Meeting, Abukuma,
lies so far away
that the image in its depths
I cannot see, and how it hurts
Meaning: Since Abukuma River, the River of Meeting, is forever far away, I cannot see the image in its depths, and that is what hurts.
Commentary: Book Nine Love Poems I 520

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says that since Abukuma River, whose name contains "au," to meet, is forever far away, he cannot see the image reflected in its depths, and that is painful. He laments the figure of the beloved he cannot meet, likening it to a reflection in the depths of a distant river.
The conceit of pivoting "Abukuma" on "au," to meet, entrusts the idea of meeting to a place name, like "Ausaka no seki" in 516 in this book.
The poet is listed as "anonymous," and the composer's name has not come down to us.

The first line, "Yo to tomo ni," means "forever, always." The third line of 528 in this book also reads "yo to tomo ni."
In the second line, "Abukuma" is a pivot word joining the Abukuma River of Michinoku and "au," to meet.
The third line, "tōkereba," means "since it is far," overlaid with meeting being far off.
The fourth line, "soko naru kage o," means "the image reflected in its depths," referring to the beloved's face.
The last line, "minu zo wabishiki," means "it is painful not to see it," the particle "zo" and the attributive "wabishiki" forming a kakarimusubi pattern.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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