思ひ出もなき古里の山なれど
隠れゆくはたあはれなりけり
隠れゆくはたあはれなりけり
- Roma-ji
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Omoide mo naki furusato no yama naredo kakureyuku hata aware narikeri
- English Translation
-
Though they are mountains
of a home where I have left
no memories dear,
as they vanish from my sight
still my heart is filled with grief.
- Meaning
- Though these are the mountains of a home that holds no fond memories for me, as they disappear from sight, it is, after all, deeply sad.
- Commentary
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Book Six Parting Poems 350
Headnote: "Composed when the Governor-General Korechika was going to Tsukushi, as we left Kawajiri"
The poet says that though these are the mountains of a home with no fond memories, it is still sad to see them recede and vanish from sight. The poem conveys the complex feelings of an exile whose heart lingers even on a capital that should be resented. According to the headnote, it was composed as the ship left Kawajiri at the mouth of the Yodo River, when Fujiwara no Korechika was being banished to Tsukushi as Acting Governor-General of Dazaifu. Korechika's banishment to Tsukushi took place in the second year of Chōtoku (996).
The author, written as Yuge no Yoshitoki in kana, is Yuge no Yoshitoki. He was a poet of the mid-Heian period, and little is known of his life.
First line, "omoide mo," means "nor fond memories."
Second line, "naki furusato no," means "of a home without," referring to the capital.
Third line, "yama naredo," means "though they are mountains," with "do" a concessive particle.
Fourth line, "kakureyuku hata," means "as they vanish, still," with "hata" meaning "and yet, after all." The next poem, 351, also sings of a home receding "until it is hidden," so poems of those banished to Tsukushi stand together.
Final line, "aware narikeri," means "how moving and sad it is," with "keri" exclamatory.
- Author
- Yuge no Yoshitoki
- Source
- Shui Wakashu
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