津の国のなにはたたまく惜しみこそ
すくも焚く火の下に焦がるれ
すくも焚く火の下に焦がるれ
- Roma-ji
-
Tsu no kuni no naniwa tatamaku oshimi koso sukumo taku hi no shita ni kogarure
- English Translation
-
In the land of Tsu,
Naniwa—it is because I grieve
that my name might spread
that I burn beneath, like fires
of smoldering reeds
- Meaning
- Like Naniwa in the land of Tsu, it is because I would grieve to have my name spread abroad that I burn in secret beneath, like a fire of smoldering reeds.
- Commentary
-
Book Eleven Love Poems III 769
Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says that because she fears her name will spread, she burns within like a fire of smoldering reeds. Afraid to be known, she keeps her love from showing, and it burns in her heart like a smoldering fire.
The poet, Princess Ki, was a daughter of Emperor Kanmu.
The first line, "Tsu no kuni no," means "of the land of Settsu," leading into "Naniwa" in the second line.
In the second line, "naniwa tatamaku," "naniwa" is a pivot word meaning both the place name Naniwa and "na ni wa," of my name. "Tatamaku" means "that it might rise," referring to rumors spreading.
The third line, "oshimi koso," means "precisely because I grieve," with "koso" an emphatic particle.
The fourth line, "sukumo taku hi no," means "of a fire burning dried reeds," likening a smoldering fire to a love that cannot show itself. "Hi," fire, echoes the "hi" of "omoi," longing.
The last line, "shita ni kogarure," means "I burn within," closing with the perfective "kogarure" in answer to "koso" in the third line, a kakarimusubi pattern. "Kogaru," to scorch, is a word associated with "hi" in the fourth line.
- Author
- Princess Ki
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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Tamatsushima fukaki irie o kogu fune no ukitaru koi mo ware wa suru kana
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Yumeji ni mo yado kasu hito no aramaseba nezame ni tsuyu wa harawazaramashi