恋しきも思ひこめつつあるものを
人に知らるる涙何なり
人に知らるる涙何なり
- Roma-ji
-
Koishiki mo omoikometsutsu aru mono o hito ni shiraruru namida nani nari
- English Translation
-
Even my longing
I keep shut deep within,
and yet these tears
that let others know of it—
what are they, then
- Meaning
- I keep even my longing locked inside my heart, so what are these tears that let everyone know?
- Commentary
-
Book Eleven Love Poems III 722
Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet asks what these tears are that reveal his love to others, when he keeps even his longing shut inside. He laments, as if scolding his tears, that though he hides his feelings, they spill out and tell the world of his love.
Like the preceding poem, 721, it sings of tears of love that become known to others despite every effort to hide them.
The poet, Taira no Nakaki, was an official of the early Heian period who served as Governor of Ōmi among other posts.
The first line, "Koishiki mo," means "even my longing."
The second line, "omoikometsutsu," means "keeping it shut within," with "tsutsu" expressing continuation.
The third line, "aru mono o," means "though I do," "mono o" being an adversative particle.
The fourth line, "hito ni shiraruru," means "known to others." Like the wet sleeve questioned by others in the preceding poem, 721, it speaks of tears that become known.
The last line, "namida nani nari," means "what are these tears," ending as if to reproach them.
- Author
- Taira no Nakaki
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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Shinonome ni akade wakareshi tamoto o zo tsuyu ya wakeshi to hito wa togamuru
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Ausaka no ko no shitatsuyu ni nureshi yori waga koromode wa ima mo kawakazu