Ise no umi ni toshi hete sumishi ama naredo kakaru mirume wa kazukazarishi o - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

伊勢の海に年経て住みし海人なれど
かかるみるめはかづかざりしを

Roma-ji: Ise no umi ni toshi hete sumishi ama naredo kakaru mirume wa kazukazarishi o
English Translation: Though I am a diver
who has dwelt for many years
by the sea of Ise,
seaweed such as this, such favor,
I never once brought up
Meaning: Though I am a fisherwoman who has lived for years by the sea of Ise, never have I dived and brought up seaweed like this—never have I been granted such a favor.
Commentary: Book Eighteen Miscellaneous Poems IV 1279

Headnote: "When she was serving at the Teiji-in and was granted the leftovers of the Cloistered Emperor's monastic meal."
The poet says that though she has long dwelt by the sea of Ise as a diver, she never brought up such seaweed. Weaving in her own name, Ise, she gives thanks for the honor of receiving the leftovers of the Cloistered Emperor's monastic meal, likening it to seaweed no diver could ever gather.
According to the headnote, while serving at the Teiji-in, the palace of Cloistered Emperor Uda, she was granted the remains of his monastic meal and composed this.
The poet, Ise, was a daughter of Fujiwara no Tsugukage, Governor of Ise, and served Fujiwara no Onshi, consort of Emperor Uda. She received the emperor's favor and later bore Nakatsukasa to Prince Atsuyoshi. One of the Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals, she is represented in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu by "Naniwagata mijikaki ashi no fushi no ma mo."

The first line, "Ise no umi ni," means "by the sea of Ise," weaving in the poet's own name.
The second line, "toshi hete sumishi," means "who has dwelt for many years," her long years in service.
The third line, "ama naredo," means "though I am a diver," likening herself to a fisherwoman of Ise.
The fourth line, "kakaru mirume wa," is a pivot word on "mirume," both the seaweed called miru and "seeing": such seaweed, and such a sight of favor.
The last line, "kazukazarishi o," is a pivot word on "kazuku," both diving into the sea and receiving a reward: I never dived for it nor was granted it. "O" is exclamatory.
Author: Ise
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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