Mizu no omo ni yadoreru tsuki no nodokeki wa namiite hito no nenu yo nareba ka - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

水の面に宿れる月ののどけきは
なみゐて人の寝ぬ夜なればか

Roma-ji: Mizu no omo ni yadoreru tsuki no nodokeki wa namiite hito no nenu yo nareba ka
English Translation: Upon the water's face,
the moon that lodges there so calm,
is it because
the waves are still and guests sit ranged,
sleepless all this night long?
Meaning: Is the moon reflected on the water so calm because the waves are still, and the guests, sitting in a row, stay up all night without sleeping?
Commentary: Book Seventeen Miscellaneous Autumn Poems 1107

Headnote: "In the eighth month, many guests gathered in the fishing pavilion of a house to view the moon"
The poet wonders whether the moon reflected on the water is so calm because the waves are still and the guests, sitting in a row, stay awake all night. The headnote shows it depicts a scene in the eighth month, when many guests gathered in the fishing pavilion of a house to view the moon. Joining "nami," in a row, and "nami," waves, it portrays the tranquil, unrippled water on a night when people gather to admire the moon.
The author, written as "Shitagō," is Minamoto no Shitagau. Of the Saga Genji line, he took part, as one of the Five Men of the Pear Chamber, in compiling the Gosenshū and reading the Man'yōshū, and he compiled the dictionary Wamyō Ruijushō. He is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.

First line, "mizu no omo ni," means "on the surface of the water," a hypermetric line of six syllables.
Second line, "yadoreru tsuki no," means "the moon that lodges there," with "yadoru" meaning the moon's reflection on the water.
Third line, "nodokeki wa," means "that it is so calm."
Fourth line, "namiite hito no," turns on the pivot word "nami," joining "nami," people sitting in a row, and "nami," waves.
Final line, "nenu yo nareba ka," means "is it because it is a sleepless night," with "ka" a questioning binding particle followed by an omitted "aran."
Author: Minamoto no Shitagō
Source: Shui Wakashu
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