Itsushika to kure o matsu ma no ōzora wa kumoru sae koso ureshikarikere - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

いつしかと暮れを待つ間の大空は
曇るさへこそうれしかりけれ

Roma-ji: Itsushika to kure o matsu ma no ōzora wa kumoru sae koso ureshikarikere
English Translation: While I wait and wait,
wishing that the dusk would come,
the great sky above,
even when it clouds over,
fills my heart with happiness.
Meaning: While I wait impatiently for evening to come, even the clouding over of the great sky makes me glad.
Commentary: Book Twelve Love Poems II 722

Headnote: "Topic unknown"
The poem says that while the poet waits impatiently for evening, even the clouding of the great sky is a joy. It depicts the lover's mind, in which the darkening of a clouded sky seems to bring dusk, the hour of meeting, closer. Like "kyō no kure" in 714, it sings of the heart that waits for evening. From 723 to 726, poems on dawn and dusk follow.

First line, "itsushika to," means "wishing it would soon," expressing impatient waiting.
Second line, "kure o matsu ma no," means "while I wait for dusk," sharing the heart that waits for evening with the fourth line of 714 in this book, "kyō no kure koso."
Third line, "ōzora wa," means "the great sky."
Fourth line, "kumoru sae koso," means "even its clouding over," with "sae" additive and the binding particle "koso" resolved by the perfective form "kere" in the final line.
Final line, "ureshikarikere," means "is a joy," the same line as the final line of 745 in this book, "ureshikarikere."
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Shui Wakashu
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