上にのみおろかに燃ゆる蚊遣り火の
よにもそこにはおもひこがれじ
よにもそこにはおもひこがれじ
- Roma-ji
-
Ue ni nomi oroka ni moyuru kayaribi no yo ni mo soko ni wa omoikogareji
- English Translation
-
Only on the top,
carelessly the smudge-fire smolders
to keep off the gnats—
surely in your depths you never
burn with longing, not at all
- Meaning
- Like a mosquito smudge that smolders only on the surface, carelessly, you surely do not burn with longing for me down in the depths of your heart.
- Commentary
-
Book Thirteen Love Poems V 991
Headnote: "Again, the man."
The poet says that, like a mosquito smudge that burns carelessly only on top, she surely never burns with longing in her depths. To the woman who said she too was scorched, he doubts her, saying that her love is like a smudge fire, all smoke and burning only on the surface, not from the depths of her heart.
According to the headnote, the man sent this again after her reply. Taking up "kogare" from the preceding poem, he shifts the fire imagery to a mosquito smudge and carries the exchange on.
The poet is listed as anonymous, and the composer's name has not come down to us.
The first line, "Ue ni nomi," means "only on the surface," paired with "soko," depths, in the fourth line.
The second line, "oroka ni moyuru," means "burning carelessly."
The third line, "kayaribi no," means "of a mosquito smudge," a smoldering fire that burns only on top, standing for the woman's love.
The fourth line, "yo ni mo soko ni wa," means "never in the depths," "yo ni mo" strengthening the negative it answers. "Soko" joins the depths of the fire and "soko," you.
The last line, "omoikogareji," means "you surely do not burn with longing," with "hi" in "omoi" joining "hi," fire, and "ji" a negative conjecture. It takes up "kogare" in the preceding poem.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Kiezu nomi moyuru omoi wa tōkeredo mi mo kogarenuru mono ni zo arikeru
- Next Poem
-
Kawa to nomi wataru o miru ni nagusamade kurushiki koto zo iyamasari naru