Chikakereba nani ka wa shirushi ausaka no seki no hoka zo to omoitaenan - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

近ければ何かはしるし逢坂の
関の外ぞと思ひ絶えなん

Roma-ji: Chikakereba nani ka wa shirushi ausaka no seki no hoka zo to omoitaenan
English Translation: Though you are so near,
what good does nearness bring me—
beyond the barrier
of Meeting Hill you have gone,
so I will cease my longing
Meaning: What good is it that you are near? I will tell myself you are beyond the Barrier of Meeting Hill and give up my longing altogether.
Commentary: Book Twelve Love Poems IV 802

Headnote: "Reply."
The poet asks what good it is to be near, and resolves to think of the other as beyond the Ōsaka Barrier and give up. Where the preceding poem pleaded not to be forgotten, this reply turns it aside half sulkily: if they cannot meet, better to cut off the longing.
It is the reply to the preceding poem, 801, answering its "barrier" and "awazu" with "the Barrier of Ōsaka."
The poet is listed as anonymous, and the composer's name has not come down to us.

The first line, "Chikakereba," means "since you are near," noting that Ōmi is not far from the capital.
The second line, "nani ka wa shirushi," means "what good is it," with "ka wa" rhetorical. The poem pauses here.
The third line, "ausaka no," means "of Ōsaka," the barrier between Yamashiro and Ōmi, echoing "au," to meet. 859 in this book also sings of "the Barrier of Ōsaka."
The fourth line, "seki no hoka zo to," means "that you are beyond the barrier," with "zo" an emphatic binding particle.
The last line, "omoitaenan," means "I will give up my longing completely," with "na" intensifying and "n" expressing intention.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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