Waga tame wa tanai no shimizu nurukeredo nao kakiyaramu sate wa sumu ya to - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

我がためはたな井の清水ぬるけれど
なほかきやらむさてはすむやと

Roma-ji: Waga tame wa tanai no shimizu nurukeredo nao kakiyaramu sate wa sumu ya to
English Translation: Toward me, you are
tepid as the clear water
of the field's own well,
yet I'll stir it, write again,
that it may clear and let me stay.
Meaning: Toward me you are as tepid as the clear water of the field well; still I will stir it and write to you, thinking that it may then grow clear and let me dwell with you.
Commentary: Book Eleven Love Poems I 670

Headnote: "When a woman he was courting would give him no reply at all"
The poem says that though the beloved is as tepid toward him as the clear water of a field well, the poet will still stir it and write to her, thinking it may then grow clear. The headnote shows that Fujiwara no Sanekata sent it when a woman he was courting gave him no reply at all. Pivoting "kakiyaru" on "stirring" water and "writing" a letter, and "sumu" on water "clearing" and "dwelling" with her, it hopes that even a cold heart will soften if he keeps on reaching out. The next poem, 671, is the reply to this one.
The author, Fujiwara no Sanekata, was a son of Fujiwara no Sadatoki and was adopted by his uncle Fujiwara no Naritoki. After serving as Middle Captain of the Left Inner Palace Guards, he went down as Governor of Mutsu and died at his post. He is one of the Thirty-Six Later Immortal Poets and is known for his poem "kaku to dani" in the Hyakunin Isshu.

First line, "waga tame wa," means "toward me."
Second line, "tanai no shimizu," is understood as the clear water of a well in a field, a figure for the beloved.
Third line, "nurukeredo," means "though it is tepid," layering "nurushi" with a lack of warmth and coldness of heart.
Fourth line, "nao kakiyaramu," is a pivot word: "kakiyara" means "stirring" the water and "writing" a letter, with "mu" an auxiliary of intention. The poem breaks after this fourth line.
Final line, "sate wa sumu ya to," is a pivot word: "sumu" means water "clearing" and a man "dwelling" with a woman. In inverted order it gives the reason for the fourth line.
Author: Fujiwara no Sanekata
Source: Shui Wakashu
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