Shiranami no uchishikiritsutsu koyoi sae ikade ka hitori nuru to ka ya kimi - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

白波のうちしきりつつ今宵さへ
いかでか独り寝るとかや君

Roma-ji: Shiranami no uchishikiritsutsu koyoi sae ikade ka hitori nuru to ka ya kimi
English Translation: Like the white waves
that strike the shore again and again,
even this night too,
how can it be that alone
I must sleep, you say, my love?
Meaning: Like white waves breaking again and again, the nights go on, and even tonight—how can you tell me I must sleep alone, my love?
Commentary: Book Fourteen Love Poems IV 851

Headnote: "Topic unknown"
The poem appeals to the lover: like white waves breaking again and again, nights of sleeping alone pile up, even tonight; how can you tell me to sleep alone, my love? Calling out "kimi" in the final line, it hurls its reproach straight at the one who does not come.

First line, "shiranami no," means "like the white waves." Since waves "strike," uchi, it leads into the next word, "uchishikiri."
Second line, "uchishikiritsutsu," means "repeating again and again," with "tsutsu" expressing repetition. It lays the continuing nights of sleeping alone over the ceaseless breaking of the waves.
Third line, "koyoi sae," means "even tonight," with "sae" meaning "in addition."
Fourth line, "ikade ka hitori," means "how can I, alone," with "ikade ka" a question carrying rhetorical force.
Final line, "nuru to ka ya kimi," means "are you telling me to sleep, my love?" "To ka ya" turns back on words heard, and the closing call of "kimi" heightens the appeal.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Shui Wakashu
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