Yo no naka wa uki mono nare ya hitogoto no to ni mo kaku ni mo kikoegurushiki - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

世の中は憂きものなれや人言の
とにもかくにも聞こえ苦しき

Roma-ji: Yo no naka wa uki mono nare ya hitogoto no to ni mo kaku ni mo kikoegurushiki
English Translation: This world of ours—
is it so full of sorrow, then?
What people say
comes to me this way and that,
so painful to my ears
Meaning: Is this world such a sorrowful place? The things people say reach me this way and that, and are painful to hear.
Commentary: Book Sixteen Miscellaneous Poems II 1176

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet asks whether the world is such a sorrowful place, since people's talk reaches him this way and that and is painful to hear. He laments the burden of being on others' lips for good or ill and speaks of the pain of living among people.
The poet, "Tsurayuki," is Ki no Tsurayuki. A son of Ki no Mochiyuki, he was the leading compiler of the Kokinshu and wrote its kana preface. He is also known as the author of the Tosa Diary, and the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu includes his poem "Hito wa isa kokoro mo shirazu furusato wa."

The first line, "Yo no naka wa," means "this world."
The second line, "uki mono nare ya," means "is it a sorrowful thing," with "ya" a question. The poem pauses here.
The third line, "hitogoto no," means "people's talk."
The fourth line, "to ni mo kaku ni mo," means "this way and that, on every occasion."
The last line, "kikoegurushiki," means "is painful to hear," closing on the attributive to express feeling.
Author: Ki no Tsurayuki
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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