憂しと思ふものから人の恋しきは
いづこをしのぶ心なるらん
いづこをしのぶ心なるらん
- Roma-ji
-
Ushi to omou mono kara hito no koishiki wa izuko o shinobu kokoro naruran
- English Translation
-
Though I think of you
as cruel, still I long for you;
what is it, I wonder,
that my heart so dearly holds,
what part of you does it love?
- Meaning
- Though I think you cruel, I still long for you; what part of you, I wonder, is it that my heart so cherishes?
- Commentary
-
Book Twelve Love Poems II 731
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Sent to a woman"
The poem asks what part of the beloved the poet's heart can cherish, that he still longs for one he thinks cruel. In the form of puzzlement it expresses a heart that cannot break off its love even while resenting the beloved's coldness. This poem is also included again as 944 in Book Fifteen of this anthology.
First line, "ushi to omou," means "though I think you cruel."
Second line, "mono kara hito no," means "yet, that you," with "mono kara" concessive.
Third line, "koishiki wa," means "I long for."
Fourth line, "izuko o shinobu," means "what part does it cherish," with "shinobu" meaning to hold dear.
Final line, "kokoro naruran," means "is my heart, I wonder," with "ran" an auxiliary conjecturing a cause.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Shui Wakashu
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