Fune naku wa Ama no Kawa made motometemu kogitsutsu shio no naka ni kiezu wa - Gosen Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

舟なくは天の川まで求めてむ
漕ぎつつ潮の中に消えずは

Roma-ji: Fune naku wa Ama no Kawa made motometemu kogitsutsu shio no naka ni kiezu wa
English Translation: Though there be no boat,
as far as the River of Heaven
I would seek you out,
rowing on and on, unless
I vanish in the tides
Meaning: Even without a boat I would search for you as far as the River of Heaven, rowing on and on—so long as I do not vanish amid the tides.
Commentary: Book Nineteen Parting Poems 1346

Headnote: "Reply."
The traveler says that even without a boat he would seek her as far as the River of Heaven, so long as he does not vanish in the tides while rowing. Taking up "though no boat is seen" and "seek me upon the waves" of the preceding poem, he answers that he will search even to the River of Heaven.
It is the reply to Ise's preceding poem.
The poet is anonymous and the name is not known.

The first line, "Fune naku wa," means "even without a boat," taking up "fune miezu tomo" in the last line of the preceding poem.
The second line, "Ama no Kawa made," means "as far as the River of Heaven," searching to the sky beyond the sea.
The third line, "motometemu," means "I will surely seek," with "temu" strong intention. It takes up "motomeyo" in the preceding poem's fourth line, and the poem pauses here.
The fourth line, "kogitsutsu shio no," means "rowing on, of the tides," taking up "kogaru" in the preceding poem.
The last line, "naka ni kiezu wa," means "unless I vanish within," with "zu wa" a negative condition, inverted with the third line.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Gosen Wakashu
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