沖つ波寄る荒磯をしきたへの
枕とまきてなれる君かも
枕とまきてなれる君かも
- Roma-ji
-
Okitsu nami yoru araiso o shikitae no makura to makite nareru kimi kamo
- English Translation
-
Where the offing's waves
come breaking on the rough shore,
there, as on a bed,
for your pillow you have taken
the rocks, and so lie at rest.
- Meaning
- You lie there with the rough shore, where the waves of the open sea break, for your pillow, as if on your own bed.
- Commentary
-
Book Twenty Lament Poems 1316
Headnote: "On seeing a man who had died in a cave on the island of Samine in Sanuki"
The poet sings of one who lies with the rough shore where the waves of the offing break as his pillow. The headnote shows it was composed on seeing a man who had died inside a cave on the island of Samine in Sanuki. For a stranger who fell by the way on a journey and lies with the harsh rocks for a pillow, he imagines that someone must be waiting at home and offers deep compassion.
The author, written as "Hitomaro," is Kakinomoto no Hitomaro. A court poet who served in the reigns of Empress Jitō and Emperor Monmu, he is revered as the Saint of Poetry. He is counted among the Thirty-Six Immortal Poets.
A similar poem appears in Book Two of the Man'yōshū as an envoy to Hitomaro's poem on seeing a dead man on the island of Samine.
First line, "okitsu nami," means "the waves of the offing."
Second line, "yoru araiso o," means "the rough shore where they break."
Third line, "shikitae no," is a pillow word for "makura," pillow.
Fourth line, "makura to makite," means "taking it for a pillow," "maku" meaning to use as a pillow.
Final line, "nareru kimi kamo," means "you who lie there," with "kamo" exclamatory.
- Author
- Kakinomoto no Hitomaro
- Source
- Shui Wakashu
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Sasanami no Shiga no tekora ga makarinishi kawase no michi o mireba kanashi mo
- Next Poem
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Asu shiranu waga mi to omoedo kurenu ma no kyō wa hito koso kanashikarikere