慰むる言の葉にだにかからずは
今も消ぬべき露の命を
今も消ぬべき露の命を
- Roma-ji
-
Nagusamuru koto no ha ni dani kakarazu wa ima mo kenubeki tsuyu no inochi o
- English Translation
-
Were it not that I
hang upon your leaves of words
that bring me comfort,
it would vanish even now,
this life as frail as dew
- Meaning
- If I did not cling even to your leaves of comforting words, this life of mine, frail as the dew, would vanish this very moment.
- Commentary
-
Book Fourteen Love Poems VI 1031
Headnote: "Composed when a woman sent word to give him hope, telling him not to grieve so terribly."
The poet says that if he did not cling even to her comforting words, his life, frail as dew, would vanish at once. As dew lingers by resting on a leaf, he barely keeps his life by holding to her words of comfort.
According to the headnote, a woman sent him words of hope, telling him not to grieve so much. 1008 in this book also speaks of "tsuyu no inochi," a life like dew, lamenting being resented in a life that may vanish at any moment.
The poet is listed as anonymous, and the composer's name has not come down to us.
The first line, "Nagusamuru," means "that comfort me."
The second line, "koto no ha ni dani," means "even to your words," with the "leaf" of "koto no ha" an associated word with "tsuyu," dew, in the last line. "Dani" is an adverbial particle marking the least that is needed.
The third line, "kakarazu wa," means "were I not to cling," overlaid with dew resting on a leaf.
The fourth line, "ima mo kenubeki," means "likely to vanish even now," with "nubeki" expressing strong conjecture.
The last line, "tsuyu no inochi o," means "this life as frail as dew," using the same words as the first line of 1008 in this book. "O" is a final particle carrying feeling.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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