おほかたはなぞや我が名の惜しからん
昔のつまと人に語らむ
昔のつまと人に語らむ
- Roma-ji
-
Ōkata wa nazo ya waga na no oshikaran mukashi no tsuma to hito ni kataramu
- English Translation
-
After all,
why should I hold dear
my own good name?
I'll tell the world you were
my wife from long ago
- Meaning
- After all, why should I care for my reputation? I will tell everyone you have been my wife since long ago.
- Commentary
-
Book Ten Love Poems II 633
Headnote: "He sent words to Ōtsubune, but she would not listen at all, so he sent this."
The poet asks why he should care for his good name at all, and says he will tell people she has long been his wife. To Ōtsubune, who will not listen to his advances, he presses forcefully, not minding if rumors spread.
According to the headnote, he sent words to Ōtsubune, but she would not listen at all, so he composed this. The next poem, 634, is Ōtsubune's reply.
The poet, called "Sadamoto no Miko," is Prince Sadamoto, a son of Emperor Seiwa.
The first line, "Ōkata wa," means "on the whole, after all."
The second line, "nazo ya waga na no," means "why should my name," with "ya" a rhetorical particle.
The third line, "oshikaran," means "be precious to me?" closing with the attributive "n" in answer to "ya" in the second line, a kakarimusubi pattern. The poem pauses here. The next poem, 634, turns this line back with "naki na no oshikereba."
The fourth line, "mukashi no tsuma to," means "as my wife of long ago." "Mukashi mo ima mo" in the fourth line of the next poem answers it.
The last line, "hito ni kataramu," means "I will tell people," with "mu" expressing intention.
- Author
- Prince Sadamoto
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Ashihiki no yamai wa su tomo fumi kayou ato o mo minu wa kurushiki mono o
- Next Poem
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Hito wa isa ware wa naki na no oshikereba mukashi mo ima mo shirazu to o iwan