Suminoe no nami ni wa aranedo yo to tomo ni kokoro o kimi ni yosewataru kana - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

住の江の浪にはあらねど世とともに
心を君に寄せわたるかな

Roma-ji: Suminoe no nami ni wa aranedo yo to tomo ni kokoro o kimi ni yosewataru kana
English Translation: I am not a wave
of Suminoe Bay,
yet through all my days
I keep drawing my heart
ever closer to you
Meaning: Though I am no wave of Suminoe, all my days I keep drawing my heart toward you without end.
Commentary: Book Ten Love Poems II 638

Headnote: "Sent to a woman for whom he had feelings."
The poet says that though he is no wave of Suminoe, all his days he keeps drawing his heart toward her. He layers the unchanging devotion of his heart with the waves of Suminoe that endlessly approach the shore.
According to the headnote, like the preceding poem, it was sent to a woman he had feelings for. 653 and 672 in this book also sing of Suminoe.
The poet, called "Tsurayuki," is Ki no Tsurayuki. He was one of the compilers of the Kokin Wakashū and served as Governor of Tosa, among other posts. Known also as the author of the Tosa Diary, he is one of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals.

The first line, "Suminoe no," means "of Suminoe," a poetic place in Settsu.
The second line, "nami ni wa aranedo," means "though I am not a wave."
The third line, "yo to tomo ni," means "always, without ceasing."
The fourth line, "kokoro o kimi ni," means "my heart toward you."
The last line, "yosewataru kana," means "how I keep drawing it near," with "yosu" an associated word with waves and "kana" an exclamatory particle.
Author: Ki no Tsurayuki
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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