嘆けどもかひなかりけり世の中に
何に悔しく思ひ初めけん
何に悔しく思ひ初めけん
- Roma-ji
-
Nagekedomo kai nakarikeri yo no naka ni nani ni kuyashiku omoisomeken
- English Translation
-
Though I grieve and grieve,
there is no use in it at all—
in this world of ours,
why did I ever begin
a love I now regret
- Meaning
- Grieving does no good at all. Why, in this world, did I ever begin to love in a way I would come to regret?
- Commentary
-
Book Twelve Love Poems IV 850
Headnote: "Sent to someone."
The poet says that grieving is of no use, and wonders why he ever began a love he would regret. From the futility of lamenting an unrequited love, he comes to regret having fallen in love at all.
According to the headnote, the poem was sent to a certain person.
The poet is listed as anonymous, and the composer's name has not come down to us.
The first line, "Nagekedomo," means "though I grieve," with "domo" adversative.
The second line, "kai nakarikeri," means "it is of no use," with "keri" expressing realization. The poem pauses here.
The third line, "yo no naka ni," means "in this world," also including the sense of the bond between man and woman.
The fourth line, "nani ni kuyashiku," means "why, so regrettably."
The last line, "omoisomeken," means "did I begin to love," with "ken" conjecturing a past cause and closing in the attributive in answer to "nani ni" in the fourth line.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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