別れにしほどを果てとも思ほえず
恋しきことの限りなければ
恋しきことの限りなければ
- Roma-ji
-
Wakarenishi hodo o hate to mo omooezu koishiki koto no kagiri nakereba
- English Translation
-
The time since we parted
I cannot think has come
to its mourning's end,
for the longing that I feel
is a thing that has no end
- Meaning
- I cannot feel that the time since we parted has reached its end, for my longing for him knows no limit.
- Commentary
-
Book Twenty Congratulatory Poems 1391
Headnote: "After Lord Tokimochi died, when the end of the mourning period drew near, someone wrote asking how she was feeling."
She says she cannot feel that the time since their parting has reached its end, for her longing has no limit. As the end of mourning for her husband approaches and a caring letter arrives, she answers that though mourning ends, longing does not.
According to the headnote, after her husband Taira no Tokimochi died, as the end of the mourning period drew near, someone wrote asking how she was feeling, and she composed this.
The poet, "the wife of Lord Tokimochi," is the wife of Taira no Tokimochi, and her name is not known. Taira no Tokimochi was an official who rose to Middle Counselor.
The first line, "Wakarenishi," means "since we parted" in death.
The second line, "hodo o hate to mo," means "that time as an end," taking up "end" in the headnote.
The third line, "omooezu," means "I cannot feel." The poem pauses here.
The fourth line, "koishiki koto no," means "of my longing."
The last line, "kagiri nakereba," means "since there is no limit," set against "end" in the second line and inverted with the third line.
- Author
- Wife of Taira no Tokimochi
- Source
- Gosen Wakashu
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