玉津島深き入江を漕ぐ舟の
浮きたる恋も我はするかな
浮きたる恋も我はするかな
- Roma-ji
-
Tamatsushima fukaki irie o kogu fune no ukitaru koi mo ware wa suru kana
- English Translation
-
Like a boat that rows
through the deep inlet waters
of Tamatsushima,
I too am drifting, adrift
in a love that cannot settle
- Meaning
- Like a boat rowing through the deep inlet of Tamatsushima, I am lost in a love that floats, uncertain and unsettled.
- Commentary
-
Book Eleven Love Poems III 768
Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says that like a boat rowing through the deep inlet of Tamatsushima, he is in a floating, uncertain love. He overlays the image of a boat afloat on a deep inlet with the unease of a love that is deep yet has no settled course.
The poet, listed as "Kuronushi," was Ōtomo no Kuronushi. Said to have been from Ōmi Province, he is one of the Six Poetic Geniuses.
The first line, "Tamatsushima," is a poetic place at Waka-no-ura in Kii Province.
The second line, "fukaki irie o," means "through the deep inlet," echoing the depth of his love.
The third line, "kogu fune no," means "like a boat rowing," and the lines up to here form a preface leading into "uki," floating, in the fourth line.
The fourth line, "ukitaru koi mo," means "a floating, unsettled love."
The last line, "ware wa suru kana," means "I am in," with "kana" an exclamatory particle.
- Author
- Ōtomo no Kuronushi
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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