流れ出づる涙の川の行く末は
つひにあふみの海と頼まむ
つひにあふみの海と頼まむ
- Roma-ji
-
Nagareizuru namida no kawa no yukusue wa tsui ni aumi no umi to tanomamu
- English Translation
-
The river of tears
that flows out of me, where will
its waters end?
At last in the sea of Omi,
the sea of meeting, I'll trust
- Meaning
- Wherever the river of my flowing tears may end, I will trust that at last it reaches the Lake of Omi—that I will be one who meets you.
- Commentary
-
Book Thirteen Love Poems V 972
Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says he will trust that the river of his flowing tears ends at last in the Lake of Omi. Making the Lake of Omi the end of the river of tears and overlaying its name with "au mi," one who meets, he keeps alive the hope of one day meeting the beloved.
The river of tears also appears in 946, 947 and 949 in this book. In speaking of where the stream ends, it echoes 949, which rejoices in the shallows where streams join.
The poet is listed as anonymous, and the composer's name has not come down to us.
The first line, "Nagareizuru," means "flowing out," a hypermetric line of six syllables.
The second line, "namida no kawa no," means "of the river of tears," likening flowing tears to a river.
The third line, "yukusue wa," means "where it ends," overlaid with the future of his love.
The fourth line, "tsui ni aumi no," means "at last, of Omi," with "aumi" joining the place name Omi and "au mi," one who meets.
The last line, "umi to tanomamu," means "I will trust it to be the sea," with "mu" expressing intention.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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