Ashihiki no yamashita toyomi yuku mizu no toki zo to mo naku koiwataru kana - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

あしひきの山下とよみ行く水の
時ぞともなく恋ひわたるかな

Roma-ji: Ashihiki no yamashita toyomi yuku mizu no toki zo to mo naku koiwataru kana
English Translation: At the mountain's foot,
foot-wearying, roaring loud,
the waters flow on;
so, with no time set apart,
I go on and on in longing.
Meaning: Like the water that flows roaring at the foot of the mountain, I go on longing without pause, at every hour.
Commentary: Book Eleven Love Poems I 645

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
The poem says that, like water flowing roaring at the foot of the mountain, the poet goes on longing without pause, at every hour. With the upper verse as a preface, it likens a love that never ceases to mountain water that flows on with constant sound. Following the echoes of the two preceding poems, it again uses mountain scenery to sing of love.

First line, "ashihiki no," is a pillow word introducing "yama," mountain.
Second line, "yamashita toyomi," means "roaring at the mountain's foot," with "toyomu" meaning to resound.
Third line, "yuku mizu no," means "like water flowing on," and up to here the lines form a preface leading into the fourth line and beyond.
Fourth line, "toki zo to mo naku," means "with no time set apart," that is, at every hour.
Final line, "koiwataru kana," means "I go on longing," with "kana" exclamatory. It shares "koiwataru," to go on longing, with the final line of 631, "koi ya wataramu."
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Shui Wakashu
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