身のならむことをも知らず漕ぐ舟は
浪の心もつつまざりけり
浪の心もつつまざりけり
- Roma-ji
-
Mi no naramu koto o mo shirazu kogu fune wa nami no kokoro mo tsutsumazarikeri
- English Translation
-
Not knowing at all
what may become of itself,
a boat that rows out
has no fear, it seems,
of the heart of the waves
- Meaning
- A boat that rows out without knowing what will become of it has no fear, it seems, even of the moods of the waves.
- Commentary
-
Book Thirteen Love Poems V 959
Headnote: "Sent to the Superintendent of the Wardrobe Office."
The poet says that a boat that rows out without knowing what will become of it has no fear even of the moods of the waves. Likening himself to a boat that heads out heedless of danger, he tells her of his resolve to throw himself into love regardless of what others may think.
According to the headnote, it was sent to the Superintendent of the Wardrobe Office. Poem 961 in this book also concerns the Superintendent of the Wardrobe Office, so love poems about the same woman are placed close together.
The poet, listed as "Kiyokage no Ason," was Minamoto no Kiyokage. A son of Emperor Yozei, he was made a commoner with the surname Minamoto and rose to Major Counselor.
The first line, "Mi no naramu," means "what will become of me," with "mu" a conjectural auxiliary.
The second line, "koto o mo shirazu," means "not knowing even that."
The third line, "kogu fune wa," means "a boat that rows out," standing for himself plunging into love.
The fourth line, "nami no kokoro mo," means "even the heart of the waves," overlaying rough waves with the opinions of the world and those around her.
The last line, "tsutsumazarikeri," means "it does not hold back," "tsutsumu" meaning to be restrained or wary.
- Author
- Minamoto no Kiyokage
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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Fuchi tote mo tanomi ya wa suru amanogawa toshi ni hitotabi wataru chō se o
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Wabinureba ima hata onaji naniwa naru mi o tsukushite mo awamu to zo omou