玉の緒の絶えて短き命もて
年月長き恋もするかな
年月長き恋もするかな
- Roma-ji
-
Tama no o no taete mijikaki inochi mote toshitsuki nagaki koi mo suru kana
- English Translation
-
With this life of mine,
as brief as the cord of jewels
that breaks so soon,
I go on loving you
through months and long years
- Meaning
- With a life as short and easily broken as the cord that strings jewels, I carry on a love that spans long months and years.
- Commentary
-
Book Ten Love Poems II 646
Headnote: "Sent to someone with whom he had exchanged letters for many years."
The poet says that with a life as short and fragile as the cord that strings jewels, he carries on a love lasting long months and years. Contrasting fleeting life with enduring love, he shows the depth of feeling sustained over many years.
According to the headnote, it was sent to someone with whom he had exchanged letters for many years. 670 and 673 in this book also close with "koi mo suru kana."
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, "Tama no o no," means "of the cord that strings jewels"; because such a cord breaks easily it leads to "taete," and it also suggests life itself.
The second line, "taete mijikaki," means "easily broken and short."
The third line, "inochi mote," means "with a life, though it is such a life."
The fourth line, "toshitsuki nagaki," means "long in months and years," pairing with "mijikaki" in the second line.
The last line, "koi mo suru kana," means "such a love I bear," with "kana" an exclamatory particle; it is the same last line as 670 and 673 in this book.
- Author
- Ki no Tsurayuki
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Shirushi naki omoi ya nazo to ashitazu no ne ni naku made ni awazu wabishiki
- Next Poem
-
Ware nomi ya moete kienan yo to tomo ni omoi mo naranu Fuji no ne no goto