Ashine hau uki wa ue koso tsurenakere shita wa e narazu omou kokoro o - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

葦根はふうきは上こそつれなけれ
下はえならず思ふ心を

Roma-ji: Ashine hau uki wa ue koso tsurenakere shita wa e narazu omou kokoro o
English Translation: Where the reed roots creep,
the marsh, on its surface, seems
cold and unconcerned,
yet beneath, beyond all measure,
lies a heart that loves you so.
Meaning: The marsh where the reed roots creep looks cold and unconcerned on its surface, yet beneath it lies a heart that loves beyond all measure.
Commentary: Book Fourteen Love Poems IV 893

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
The poem says that the marsh where reed roots creep looks indifferent on its surface, yet beneath it lies a heart that loves beyond all measure. It likens a love kept hidden but deeply felt within to a reedy marsh whose roots spread beneath the surface.

First line, "ashine hau," means "where reed roots creep." It shares the reed imagery of "ashiwake obune" in 853 and "ashibi" in 887 of this book.
Second line, "uki wa ue koso," means "the marsh, on its surface," with "uki" a pivot word joining "uki," muddy marsh, and "uki," sorrowful. The binding particle "koso" gives emphasis.
Third line, "tsurenakere," means "seems indifferent," concluding in the realis of the adjective "tsurenashi" in answer to "koso." Through the "koso ... realis" pattern, it runs adversatively into the lower verse.
Fourth line, "shita wa e narazu," means "beneath, beyond the ordinary," with "e narazu" meaning "extraordinary." "Ue," above, in the second line and "shita," below, in the fourth set surface against depth.
Final line, "omou kokoro o," means "though my heart loves so," with "o" an adversative tinged with exclamation.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Shui Wakashu
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