今日かとも明日とも知らぬ白菊の
知らず幾世を経べき我が身ぞ
知らず幾世を経べき我が身ぞ
- Roma-ji
-
Kyō ka to mo asu to mo shiranu shiragiku no shirazu ikuyo o fubeki waga mi zo
- English Translation
-
Not knowing whether
it be today or tomorrow,
like the white chrysanthemum,
how many ages I may pass,
this self of mine, I cannot know.
- Meaning
- Like the white chrysanthemum that knows not whether it will fall today or tomorrow, I cannot know how many ages this life of mine will last.
- Commentary
-
Book Nineteen Miscellaneous Love Poems 1257
Headnote: "Sent to a woman with a chrysanthemum he had broken off"
The poet says that, like a white chrysanthemum that may fall today or tomorrow, he cannot know how many ages he will live. The headnote shows it was sent to a woman with a chrysanthemum he had broken off. While sending the chrysanthemum, the flower of long life, he says his own life is as fleeting as its fading blossom, and so he puts into it the wish that she open her heart to him while there is time.
First line, "kyō ka to mo," means "whether today," speaking of not knowing the day it will fall.
Second line, "asu to mo shiranu," means "or tomorrow, not knowing."
Third line, "shiragiku no," means "like the white chrysanthemum," the flower broken off in the headnote. Through the sound "shira" it leads to "shirazu" in the fourth line.
Fourth line, "shirazu ikuyo o," means "I cannot know how many ages," repeating "shiranu" of the second line.
Final line, "fubeki waga mi zo," means "this self that may pass them," with "beki" the attributive form of the auxiliary of possibility "beshi" and "zo" a firm close.
- Author
- Unknown Poet
- Source
- Shui Wakashu
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