なか絶えて来る人もなき葛城の
久米路の橋は今もあやふし
久米路の橋は今もあやふし
- Roma-ji
-
Nakataete kuru hito mo naki katsuragi no kumeji no hashi wa ima mo ayaushi
- English Translation
-
Broken in the middle,
with no one crossing over,
in Katsuragi
the bridge of Kumeji even now
is perilous, as before
- Meaning
- The bridge of Kumeji in Katsuragi, broken off in the middle, with no one crossing it to come to me, is as unsafe as ever even now.
- Commentary
-
Book Thirteen Love Poems V 986
Headnote: "Reply."
The woman says that the bridge of Kumeji in Katsuragi, broken off in the middle with no one crossing it, is still unsafe. Taking up the stone bridge of the preceding poem, she doubts the man's heart, saying that a bond once broken remains precarious and that no one truly comes to her.
It is the reply to the preceding poem, 985. Taking up all its words, Katsuragi, Kumeji and bridge, she answers its "nakanaka" with "nakataete," turning his words back to form an exchange.
The poet is listed as anonymous, and the composer's name has not come down to us.
The first line, "Nakataete," means "broken off in the middle," with "naka" joining the middle of the bridge and the bond between them. It takes up "nakanaka" in the preceding poem.
The second line, "kuru hito mo naki," means "with no one crossing over to come."
The third line, "katsuragi no," means "of Katsuragi," taking up the first line of the preceding poem.
The fourth line, "kumeji no hashi wa," means "the bridge of Kumeji," taking up the second and third lines of the preceding poem.
The last line, "ima mo ayaushi," means "is perilous even now," overlaying the unsafe bridge and their precarious bond.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Katsuragi ya kumeji ni watasu iwahashi no nakanaka nite mo kaerinuru kana
- Next Poem
-
Shirakumo no mina hitomura ni mieshikado tachiidete kimi o omoisometeki