Hitogoto no uki o mo shirazu arikaseshi mukashi nagara no waga mi tomogana - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

人言のうきをも知らずありかせし
昔ながらの我が身ともがな

Roma-ji: Hitogoto no uki o mo shirazu arikaseshi mukashi nagara no waga mi tomogana
English Translation: Knowing nothing yet
of the pain that gossip brings,
I came and went free—
how I wish I were the same
as I was in those old days
Meaning: How I wish I were still as I used to be, coming and going freely, knowing nothing of how painful people's gossip can be.
Commentary: Book Thirteen Love Poems V 911

Headnote: "Sent in reply when a message came from the daughter of a household he was secretly visiting, and she seemed to be suffering."
The poet wishes he were as he used to be, coming and going freely, knowing nothing of how painful gossip can be. Looking back fondly on the days when he could visit without a care for rumor, he laments how cramped his love has become now that he must fear watching eyes.
According to the headnote, he had been secretly visiting the daughter of a household, and she seemed to be suffering, so he sent this in reply to a message from her. Receiving her distress over rumor, he tells her that he feels the same.
The poet is listed as anonymous, and the composer's name has not come down to us.

The first line, "Hitogoto no," means "of people's gossip."
The second line, "uki o mo shirazu," means "not knowing even its pain."
The third line, "arikaseshi," means "I went about," the carefree comings and goings of former days.
The fourth line, "mukashi nagara no," means "just as in the old days."
The last line, "waga mi tomogana," means "how I wish I were," with "mogana" a final particle of desire.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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