長月の九日ごとに摘む菊の
花もかひなく老いにけるかな
花もかひなく老いにけるかな
- Roma-ji
-
Nagatsuki no kokonoka goto ni tsumu kiku no hana mo kai naku oinikeru kana
- English Translation
-
In the ninth month, on
every ninth day, I have picked
the chrysanthemum,
yet its flowers were in vain,
for I have grown old at last.
- Meaning
- Every year on the ninth day of the Ninth Month I have picked chrysanthemums, yet all in vain, for I have grown old.
- Commentary
-
Book Three Autumn Poems 185
Headnote: "Topic unknown"
Though he has picked chrysanthemums every year on the festival day, praying for long life, the poet laments that he has grown old regardless. Relying on the chrysanthemum's power to lengthen life, he sings, as if mocking himself, of an aging that cannot be avoided.
The author, written as Mitsune, is Ōshikōchi no Mitsune. One of the compilers of the Kokinshū, he was ranked alongside Ki no Tsurayuki and is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.
First line, "nagatsuki no," means "of the Ninth Month."
Second line, "kokonoka goto ni," means "on every ninth day," the Chrysanthemum Festival each year. Like "kyō goto ni" in the preceding poem, it sings of the yearly festival.
Third line, "tsumu kiku no," means "the chrysanthemums I pick," praying for long life.
Fourth line, "hana mo kai naku," means "the flowers too to no avail."
Final line, "oinikeru kana," means "I have grown old," with "nikeru" combining the perfective "nu" and the exclamatory "keri." Whereas the preceding poem celebrated long life through the dew of chrysanthemums, this one laments growing old despite them, pairing celebration and lament.
- Author
- Oshikochi no Mitsune
- Source
- Shui Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Waga yado no kiku no shiratsuyu kyō goto ni ikuyo tsumorite fuchi to naruran
- Next Poem
-
Chidori naku saho no kawagiri tachinurashi yama no konoha mo iro kawariyuku