我のみは立ちも帰らぬ暁に
わきても置ける袖の露かな
わきても置ける袖の露かな
- Roma-ji
-
Ware nomi wa tachi mo kaeranu akatsuki ni wakite mo okeru sode no tsuyu kana
- English Translation
-
On this dawn when I
alone did not go forth
nor come back again,
why should the dew so specially
settle upon my sleeve
- Meaning
- On this dawn, when I alone neither went forth nor came back, the dew has settled, of all places, especially upon my sleeve.
- Commentary
-
Book Fifteen Miscellaneous Poems I 1094
Headnote: "When courtiers had gone as companions at the purification rite of the Kamo Priestess and came back at dawn, sent to Muma."
The poet says that although she alone neither went out nor came back at dawn, the dew has settled especially on her sleeve. As the others return at dawn from attending the rite, she complains of her loneliness at being left behind, her sleeve wet with the dew of tears though she took no part.
According to the headnote, when the courtiers went as companions to the purification rite of the Kamo Priestess and returned at dawn, she sent this to someone called Muma.
The poet, Uemon, was a lady-in-waiting of the time of the Gosenshu, and little more is known of her life.
The first line, "Ware nomi wa," means "I alone," setting herself apart from the others.
The second line, "tachi mo kaeranu," means "neither going out nor coming back," in contrast with the courtiers who came home at dawn.
The third line, "akatsuki ni," means "at dawn," the hour at which the others returned.
The fourth line, "wakite mo okeru," means "settled especially," with "wakite" meaning particularly and "ru" the attributive of the continuative "ri."
The last line, "sode no tsuyu kana," means "the dew upon my sleeve," overlaying dew with tears, with "kana" an exclamatory particle.
- Author
- Uemon
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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