夢にだに見ることぞなき年を経て
心のどかに寝る夜なければ
心のどかに寝る夜なければ
- Roma-ji
-
Yume ni dani miru koto zo naki toshi o hete kokoro nodoka ni nuru yo nakereba
- English Translation
-
Not even in dreams
do I ever see you now,
for through the years
there has not been a night
I slept with a quiet heart
- Meaning
- I never see you, not even in dreams, for in all these years there has not been a night when I slept with a heart at peace.
- Commentary
-
Book Nine Love Poems I 538
Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says that he never sees her even in dreams, for in all these years there has not been a night when he slept with a heart at peace. It conveys the pain of being unable to sleep for love and so unable to meet even in dreams.
In the conceit of dreams as love's consolation, 559 in this book also laments losing one's way on the path of dreams.
The poet is listed as "anonymous," and the composer's name has not come down to us. The text gives the poet as "yomibito mo," which is treated here as "anonymous."
The first line, "Yume ni dani," means "not even in dreams," with "dani" meaning "even."
The second line, "miru koto zo naki," means "do I see you," the particle "zo" and the attributive "naki" forming a kakarimusubi pattern. The poem pauses here.
The third line, "toshi o hete," means "through the years."
The fourth line, "kokoro nodoka ni," means "with a heart at peace."
The last line, "nuru yo nakereba," means "since there has been no night when I slept," giving the reason for the second line in inverted order.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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