Yo no naka ni shinoburu koi no wabishiki wa aite no nochi no awanu narikeri - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

世の中に忍ぶる恋のわびしきは
逢ひてののちの逢はぬなりけり

Roma-ji: Yo no naka ni shinoburu koi no wabishiki wa aite no nochi no awanu narikeri
English Translation: In this world of ours,
what makes a secret love
so hard to bear
is this: having met at last,
not to meet again
Meaning: What makes a hidden love in this world so painful is not being able to meet again after we have once met.
Commentary: Book Nine Love Poems I 564

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says that what makes a hidden love in this world so painful is not meeting again after once having met. It finds the heart of the pain of secret love in being unable to meet after having met.
The opening poem of this book, 507, also sings that it is harder after meeting, sharing the same theme.
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, "Yo no naka ni," means "in this world."
The second line, "shinoburu koi no," means "of a love kept hidden from others."
The third line, "wabishiki wa," means "what is painful."
The fourth line, "aite no nochi no," means "after having met," sharing the conceit of "aimite nochi zo" in the fourth line of 507 in this book.
The last line, "awanu narikeri," means "is not meeting, I now see," repeating "ai" of the fourth line with "awa" of the last.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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