Furiyameba ato dani mienu utakata no kiete hakanaki yo o tanomu kana - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

降りやめば跡だに見えぬうたかたの
消えてはかなき世を頼むかな

Roma-ji: Furiyameba ato dani mienu utakata no kiete hakanaki yo o tanomu kana
English Translation: Once the rain has stopped
it leaves not a trace behind,
the foam on water—
as fleeting, as near to fading,
is the bond I still rely on
Meaning: Like the foam on water that leaves no trace once the rain has stopped, our bond seems ready to vanish, and yet I still rely on it.
Commentary: Book Thirteen Love Poems V 904

Headnote: "Sent on a rainy day when the man was growing cold toward her."
The poet says she relies on a bond as frail as foam that leaves no trace once the rain stops. Overlaying their relationship with bubbles floating on rainwater, she voices a heart that cannot help depending on something she knows is undependable.
According to the headnote, it was sent when it rained, at a time when the man was growing cold. From the rain before her eyes she entrusts her fear of his withdrawing heart to the frailty of foam.
The poet is listed as anonymous, and the composer's name has not come down to us.

The first line, "Furiyameba," means "when the rain stops falling."
The second line, "ato dani mienu," means "not even a trace is seen," with "dani" an adverbial particle marking the least that might remain.
The third line, "utakata no," means "like foam on water," a figure for what vanishes easily, leading to "kiete" in the fourth line.
The fourth line, "kiete hakanaki," means "ready to vanish and fleeting."
The last line, "yo o tanomu kana," means "how I rely on our bond," with "yo" meaning the bond between man and woman. "Kana" is an exclamatory final particle.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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