Hisakata no tsuki no kinu o ba kitaredomo hikari wa sowanu wagami narikeri - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

久方の月のきぬをば着たれども
光は添はぬ我が身なりけり

Roma-ji: Hisakata no tsuki no kinu o ba kitaredomo hikari wa sowanu wagami narikeri
English Translation: Though I wear a robe
that bears the name of the moon
from the far-off sky,
no light shines upon me—
such a one am I, it seems.
Meaning: Though I wear a robe that bears the name of the moon, I am one on whom no light shines.
Commentary: Book Seven Names of Things 422

Headnote: "When I was wearing a robe called the moon robe"
The poet mocks himself, saying that though he wears a robe bearing the name of the moon, not a glimmer of moonlight attends him. According to the headnote, it was composed when he was wearing a "moon robe." Drawing the moon in the sky from the name of the robe and overlaying its light with worldly success, he jests about his own undistinguished lot.
The author, written as Sukemi, is Fujiwara no Sukemi. A son of Fujiwara no Hirotsune, he was a mid-Heian poet known as Tōroku. He excelled at poems hiding the names of things, and his personal collection is the Tōrokushū.

First line, "hisakata no," is a pillow word for the moon.
Second line, "tsuki no kinu o ba," means "a robe that bears the moon's name," linking the "moon robe" of the headnote to the moon in the sky.
Third line, "kitaredomo," means "though I am wearing it," with "tare" the perfective form of the auxiliary of continuing state "tari" and "domo" a concessive particle.
Fourth line, "hikari wa sowanu," means "no moonlight attends," overlaying light with prosperity.
Final line, "wagami narikeri," means "such is my lot," with "keri" exclamatory.
Author: Fujiwara no Sukemi
Source: Shui Wakashu
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