白浪の寄する磯間を漕ぐ舟の
楫取りあへぬ恋もするかな
楫取りあへぬ恋もするかな
- Roma-ji
-
Shiranami no yosuru isoma o kogu fune no kaji toriaenu koi mo suru kana
- English Translation
-
Like a boat rowing
between the rocks of the shore
where white waves break,
I cannot hold the oar—
such is the love I bear
- Meaning
- Like a boat rowing among the rocks where white waves break, unable to keep hold of its oar, so is the love I bear, beyond my power to steer.
- Commentary
-
Book Ten Love Poems II 670
Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says he bears a love he cannot steer, like a boat rowing among the rocks where white waves break, unable to keep hold of its oar. He layers a love beyond his own control with a boat tossed by rough waves.
Like 646 and 673 in this book, it closes with "koi mo suru kana."
The poet, Ōtomo no Kuronushi, is said to have come from the province of Ōmi and is one of the Six Poetic Immortals.
The first line, "Shiranami no," means "the white waves."
The second line, "yosuru isoma o," means "among the rocks where they break."
The third line, "kogu fune no," means "the boat that rows." The first three lines form a preface leading to "kaji toriaenu" in the fourth line.
The fourth line, "kaji toriaenu," means "unable to handle the oar," a figure for being unable to master one's heart.
The last line, "koi mo suru kana," means "such a love I bear," the same last line as 646 and 673 in this book.
- Author
- Ōtomo no Kuronushi
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Yo no tsune no ne o shi nakaneba au koto no namida no iro mo koto ni zo arikeru
- Next Poem
-
Koishisa wa nenu ni nagusamu to mo naki ni ayashiku awanu me o mo miru kana