Ware nomi ya moete kienan yo to tomo ni omoi mo naranu Fuji no ne no goto - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

我のみや燃えて消えなん世とともに
おもひもならぬ富士の嶺のごと

Roma-ji: Ware nomi ya moete kienan yo to tomo ni omoi mo naranu Fuji no ne no goto
English Translation: Must I alone
burn on and fade away,
longing without end,
my fire never fulfilled,
like the peak of Mount Fuji
Meaning: Must I alone burn and fade away, my love never fulfilled through all my days, like the peak of Mount Fuji forever smoldering?
Commentary: Book Ten Love Poems II 647

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet asks whether he alone must burn and fade away, like the peak of Fuji whose longing is never fulfilled. He layers the burning of an unrequited love with Mount Fuji, ever sending up its smoke.
The next poem, 648, is Ki no Menoto's reply, forming an exchange on the fire of Fuji's peak.
The poet, Taira no Sadafun, was a son of Taira no Yoshikaze and served as Assistant Commander of the Left Military Guards, among other posts. Called Heichū and renowned as a lover, he is known as the hero of the Tale of Heichū.

The first line, "Ware nomi ya," means "must I alone," with "ya" an interrogative particle.
The second line, "moete kienan," means "burn and fade away?" closing with the attributive "nan" in answer to "ya" in the first line, a kakarimusubi pattern. The poem pauses here.
The third line, "yo to tomo ni," means "forever."
In the fourth line, the "hi" of "omoi" is a pivot word for "hi," fire: "my love is never fulfilled."
The last line, "Fuji no ne no goto," means "like the peak of Fuji," inverted with the second line. The next poem, 648, answers by opening with "Fuji no ne no."
Author: Taira no Sadafun
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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