Musashino wa sode hitsu bakari wakeshikado wakamurasaki wa tazunewabiniki - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

武蔵野は袖ひつばかり分けしかど
若紫は尋ねわびにき

Roma-ji: Musashino wa sode hitsu bakari wakeshikado wakamurasaki wa tazunewabiniki
English Translation: Through Musashi Plain
I parted grass till my sleeves
were soaked with dew,
but the young murasaki
I searched for, all in vain
Meaning: I made my way through Musashi Plain until my sleeves were soaked, yet the young murasaki I sought, I could never find.
Commentary: Book Sixteen Miscellaneous Poems II 1177

Headnote: "Topic unknown."
The poet says that he parted the grasses of Musashi Plain until his sleeves were soaked, yet could not find the young murasaki. In the image of searching Musashi Plain, famed for the murasaki gromwell, for a young plant, he overlays his grief at seeking a young woman dear to him and failing to meet her.
Since the Kokinshu poem "Murasaki no hitomoto yue ni musashino no kusa wa minagara aware to zo miru," the murasaki of Musashi Plain has been a subject suggesting someone dear.
The poet is listed as anonymous, and the composer's name has not come down to us.

The first line, "Musashino wa," means "Musashi Plain" in Musashi Province, famed for murasaki.
The second line, "sode hitsu bakari," means "until my sleeves were soaked," with "hitsu" to be wet, overlaying dew and tears.
The third line, "wakeshikado," means "though I parted the grass," with "shika" the perfective form of the past "ki" and "do" adversative.
The fourth line, "wakamurasaki wa," means "the young murasaki," a figure for a young woman.
The last line, "tazunewabiniki," means "I searched in vain," with "wabu" to be at a loss.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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