Wabinureba ima hata onaji naniwa naru mi o tsukushite mo awamu to zo omou - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

わびぬれば今はた同じ難波なる
みをつくしても逢はむとぞ思ふ

Roma-ji: Wabinureba ima hata onaji naniwa naru mi o tsukushite mo awamu to zo omou
English Translation: Now that I am lost
in such misery, all is one—
like the channel stakes
in Naniwa, even if it costs
my life, I will meet with you
Meaning: I am so lost in misery that now it is all the same. Like the channel markers at Naniwa, I will meet you even if it costs me my very life.
Commentary: Book Thirteen Love Poems V 960

Headnote: "Sent to the Kyogoku Consort after the affair had come to light."
The poet says that now that he is in such misery all is the same, and like the channel markers of Naniwa, he will meet her even at the cost of his life. With the secret affair exposed and himself in dire straits, he pours out a fierce passion: whatever happens it is all the same, and he will risk his life to see her.
According to the headnote, he sent it to the Kyogoku Consort after their relationship became known and caused trouble. The Kyogoku Consort was Hoshi, a daughter of Fujiwara no Tokihira, who enjoyed the favor of the retired Emperor Uda. Naniwa also appears in 941 and 943 in this book. The poem is famous as one chosen for the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu.
The poet, listed as "Motoyoshi no Miko," was Prince Motoyoshi. The eldest son of Emperor Yozei, he was known as a man of refinement and many loves.

The first line, "Wabinureba," means "now that I am in misery," with "nure" the realis of the perfective "nu" and "ba" marking a settled condition.
The second line, "ima hata onaji," means "now it is all the same," "hata" meaning after all, already. The poem pauses here.
The third line, "naniwa naru," means "in Naniwa," reaching "miotsukushi" in the fourth line.
The fourth line, "mi o tsukushite mo," means "even if I spend myself utterly," with "miotsukushi" joining the channel markers of Naniwa and "mi o tsukushi," exhausting one's life.
The last line, "awamu to zo omou," means "I mean to meet you," with "zo" an emphatic binding particle closed by the attributive "omou."
Author: Prince Motoyoshi
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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