いかでいかで恋ふる心を慰めて
後の世までの物を思はじ
後の世までの物を思はじ
- Roma-ji
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Ikade ikade kouru kokoro o nagusamete nochi no yo made no mono o omowaji
- English Translation
-
Somehow, somehow,
I will soothe this heart of mine
that longs so for you,
and not brood on any thing
that lasts into the next world.
- Meaning
- Somehow, somehow, I wish to soothe this heart that longs for you, so that I need not carry this brooding with me into the world to come.
- Commentary
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Book Fifteen Love Poems V 941
Headnote: "Sent to a woman"
The poem says: somehow, somehow, I wish to soothe this heart that longs for you, so as not to carry such brooding on into the next world. Through a heart that fears love's attachment lingering even after death, it conveys to the other how deep that love is.
According to the headnote, it was sent to a woman. By pleading that love's suffering might even become a hindrance in the life to come, it conveys the depth of feeling.
The author, "Ōnakatomi no Yoshinobu", was the son of Ōnakatomi no Yorimoto and served as chief priest of the Ise Shrine. As one of the Five Men of the Pear Chamber, he took part in compiling the Gosenshū and in reading the Man'yōshū. He is one of the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets and is known for the Hyakunin Isshu poem "mikakimori."
First line, "ikade ikade," means "somehow, somehow," repeating "ikade" to show the strength of the wish.
Second line, "kouru kokoro o," means "this heart that longs for you."
Third line, "nagusamete," means "soothing it, easing it."
Fourth line, "nochi no yo made no," means "carried on into the next world." Behind it lies the Buddhist idea that attachment in love hinders rebirth in paradise. It shares a gaze beyond this life with "kono yo naraneba" in 927 of this book.
Final line, "mono o omowaji," means "I will not brood," with "ji" a negative intention.
- Author
- Onakatomi no Yoshinobu
- Source
- Shui Wakashu
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Shinobamu ni shinobarenubeki koi naraba tsuraki ni tsukete yami mo shinamashi
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Kagiri naku omou kokoro no fukakereba tsuraki mo shiranu mono ni zo arikeru