思ひやる心ばかりはさはらじを
何隔つらん峰の白雲
何隔つらん峰の白雲
- Roma-ji
-
Omoiyaru kokoro bakari wa sawaraji o nani hedatsuran mine no shirakumo
- English Translation
-
The heart that reaches
out to you across the miles
will meet no barrier—
why then do you stand between,
white clouds upon the peak
- Meaning
- Nothing can hinder the heart that reaches out to you across the distance—so why do you try to come between us, white clouds upon the peaks?
- Commentary
-
Book Nineteen Parting Poems 1306
Headnote: "At a farewell party for someone going far away."
The poet asks why the white clouds on the peaks would part them, when the heart that reaches out cannot be hindered. Reproaching the clouds that will stand between him and the traveler, he declares that however far apart they are, his thoughts will keep reaching across.
According to the headnote, it was composed at a farewell banquet for someone departing for a distant place.
The poet, Tachibana no Naomoto, was a man of letters of the mid-Heian period who served as Professor of Literature and Senior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial. He was known for his skill in Chinese verse and prose.
The first line, "Omoiyaru," means "reaching out in thought."
The second line, "kokoro bakari wa," means "the heart, at least," with "bakari" limiting.
The third line, "sawaraji o," means "will not be hindered, and yet," with "ji" negative conjecture and "o" concessive.
The fourth line, "nani hedatsuran," means "why do you divide us," with "ran" a conjecture about the cause.
The last line, "mine no shirakumo," means "white clouds on the peaks," addressing them as what comes between. It ends on a noun.
- Author
- Tachibana no Naomoto
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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