逢坂の関と守らるる我なれば
あふみてふらん方も知られず
あふみてふらん方も知られず
- Roma-ji
-
Ausaka no seki to moraruru ware nareba aumi chōran kata mo shirarezu
- English Translation
-
Like the barrier
of Meeting Hill, I am guarded,
watched day and night,
so where lies that "Ōmi" land
of meeting, I cannot know
- Meaning
- I am guarded as closely as the Barrier of Meeting Hill, so I cannot even tell which way lies Ōmi, the land of meeting you speak of.
- Commentary
-
Book Twelve Love Poems IV 859
Headnote: "Reply."
The poet says that because she is guarded like the Barrier of Ōsaka, she cannot even tell which way lies Ōmi. To a man who wishes for a guide, she replies that she herself is watched by her parents and cannot move, and knows no way to meet him.
It is the reply to the preceding poem, 858, answering its "aumi chō kata" with "the Barrier of Ōsaka."
The poet, listed as "Harusumi no Yoshitada Ason's daughter," was the daughter of Consultant Harusumi no Yoshitada. Her father was a scholar who served as Professor of Literature among other posts and rose to Consultant.
The first line, "Ausaka no," means "of Ōsaka," the barrier between Yamashiro and Ōmi, echoing "au," to meet. 802 in this book also sings of "the Barrier of Ōsaka."
The second line, "seki to moraruru," means "guarded like the barrier," likening her parents' watch to a barrier keeper guarding the pass.
The third line, "ware nareba," means "since I am," with "ba" marking a settled condition.
The fourth line, "aumi chōran," means "that is called Ōmi, it seems," with "aumi" joining the place name Ōmi and "au mi," and taking up "aumi chō," the first line of the preceding poem.
The last line, "kata mo shirarezu," means "I do not even know the way," taking up "kata no shirube" in the preceding poem.
- Author
- Daughter of Harusumi no Yoshitada
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Aumi chō kata no shirube mo eteshi kana mirume naki koto yukite uramin
- Next Poem
-
Ashihiki no yamashitamizu no kogakurete tagitsu kokoro o seki zo kanetsuru