Waga sode no nururu o hito no togamezu wa ne o dani yasuku nakubeki mono o - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

我が袖の濡るるを人のとがめずは
音をだにやすく泣くべきものを

Roma-ji: Waga sode no nururu o hito no togamezu wa ne o dani yasuku nakubeki mono o
English Translation: If no one reproached me
for the wetness of my sleeves,
not asking why,
then at least I might weep aloud
freely, without restraint.
Meaning: If only no one would ask why my sleeves are wet, I could at least weep aloud as freely as I liked.
Commentary: Book Fourteen Love Poems IV 917

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
The poem says that if only others would not reproach me for my sleeves wet with tears, I could at least weep aloud as I please. It sings of the pain of a hidden love in which, fearing others' eyes, one cannot even weep freely.

First line, "waga sode no," means "my sleeves."
Second line, "nururu o hito no," means "their being wet, others."
Third line, "togamezu wa," means "if they did not reproach," with "zu wa" a negative supposition.
Fourth line, "ne o dani yasuku," means "at least my voice, freely," with "dani" expressing a minimal wish. It shares the weeping aloud with the final line of the preceding poem, 916, "ne o nomi zo naku."
Final line, "nakubeki mono o," means "I could weep, and yet," with "mono o" an adversative exclamation, carrying the grief of being unable even to weep for fear of others' eyes.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Shui Wakashu
Prev Poem: Omoimasu hito shi nakereba masukagami utsureru kage to ne o nomi zo naku
Next Poem: Kazu naranu mi wa tada ni dani omōete ika ni seyo to ka nagameraruran