別るれどあひも惜しまぬ百敷を
見ざらむことや何か悲しき
見ざらむことや何か悲しき
- Roma-ji
-
Wakaruredo ai mo oshimanu momoshiki o mizaramu koto ya nani ka kanashiki
- English Translation
-
Though I go away,
this palace that does not grieve
at our parting—
never to see it again,
why should that be cause for sorrow
- Meaning
- Though I am leaving, why should I grieve at no longer seeing this palace, which does not even mourn our parting?
- Commentary
-
Book Nineteen Parting Poems 1322
Headnote: "Written on the wall of the Kokiden in the autumn when the Teiji Emperor abdicated."
The poet asks why it should be sad never to see again a palace that does not even regret her parting. Leaving the court with Emperor Uda's abdication, she says it is no grief to lose sight of a palace that does not miss those who go, and in saying so reveals a deep reluctance to leave.
According to the headnote, it was written on the wall of the Kokiden in the autumn when the Teiji Emperor, Emperor Uda, abdicated. The next poem is the emperor's reply, and the two form an exchange. The exchange also appears in the first episode of the Yamato Monogatari.
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, "Wakaruredo," means "though I part," with "do" concessive.
The second line, "ai mo oshimanu," means "that does not even grieve at our parting," personifying the palace.
The third line, "momoshiki o," means "the palace."
The fourth line, "mizaramu koto ya," means "never to see it," with "ya" a rhetorical binding particle.
The last line, "nani ka kanashiki," means "why should it be sad," closing the rhetorical "ya" and "ka" with the attributive "kanashiki." It is answered by "nado ka mizaran" in the last line of the next poem.
- Author
- Ise
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
- Prev Poem
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Tomo tomo to shitau namida no sou mizu wa ika naru iro ni miete yukuran
- Next Poem
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Mi hitotsu ni aranu bakari o oshinabete yukimegurite mo nado ka mizaran