月かへて君をば見むと言ひしかど
日だに隔てず恋しきものを
日だに隔てず恋しきものを
- Roma-ji
-
Tsuki kaete kimi o ba mimu to iishikado hi dani hedatezu koishiki mono o
- English Translation
-
"When the month has turned,
then I will see you," I said,
and yet even so,
not one day has come between,
and I long for you already
- Meaning
- I said I would see you when the month had changed, and yet, without even a single day between us, I already long for you.
- Commentary
-
Book Eleven Love Poems III 743
Headnote: "Going to a distant place on important business, he said he would return around next month, and set out; he sent this from the road."
The poet says that he promised to see her when the month changed, yet he longs for her before even a day has passed. Having left with a promise to return in about a month, he cannot bear his longing from the very day of parting.
According to the headnote, he had to go to a distant place on important business, said he would be back around the next month, and sent the poem from the road.
The poet, listed as "Tsurayuki," was Ki no Tsurayuki. One of the compilers of the Kokin Wakashū, he served as Governor of Tosa among other posts. He is also known as the author of the Tosa Diary and is one of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals.
The first line, "Tsuki kaete," means "when the month has changed."
The second line, "kimi o ba mimu to," means "that I would see you."
The third line, "iishikado," means "I said, and yet."
The fourth line, "hi dani hedatezu," means "without even a day between," setting "hi," day, against "tsuki," month, in the first line, contrasting a promise counted in months with a longing that cannot bear a day.
The last line, "koishiki mono o," means "and I long for you," with "mono o" an exclamation carrying an adversative sense.
- Author
- Ki no Tsurayuki
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
- Prev Poem
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Ana koishi yukite ya mimashi tsu no kuni no ima mo ari chō ura no hatsushima
- Next Poem
-
Ise no umi ni shio yaku ama no fujigoromo naru to wa suredo awanu kimi kana