Omoishiru hito mo arikeru yo no naka o itsu o itsu tote sugusu naruran - Shui Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

思ひ知る人もありける世の中を
いつをいつとて過ぐすなるらん

Roma-ji: Omoishiru hito mo arikeru yo no naka o itsu o itsu tote sugusu naruran
English Translation: In this world of ours,
where there are those who have seen
the truth and acted,
when, oh when, do we suppose
is the time, and let days pass?
Meaning: In a world where some have seen the truth of things and acted on it, when do we think the time will come, as we let the days slip by?
Commentary: Book Twenty Lament Poems 1335

Headnote: "Sent to Yukinari, Controller of the Left, around the time Narinobu, Shigeie and others took holy vows"
The poet asks when, in a world where some have truly understood, one thinks the time will come, letting the days slip by. The headnote shows it was sent to Fujiwara no Yukinari, Controller of the Left, around the time Minamoto no Narinobu and Fujiwara no Shigeie took vows. Narinobu and Shigeie were young noblemen of great promise, but in Chōhō 3 (1001) they took vows together, astonishing the world. Moved that the two young men had left the world, he reflects on himself and his friends, living on in the world without ever fixing a time to take vows, and calls out to his close friend Yukinari.
The author, written as "Commander of the Right Gate Guards Kintō," is Fujiwara no Kintō. A son of the Regent Fujiwara no Yoritada, he rose to Provisional Major Counselor. He compiled the Wakan Rōeishū and is said to have compiled the Shūishō. He is known for his poem "taki no oto wa" in the Hyakunin Isshu.

First line, "omoishiru," means "truly understanding" the impermanence of the world.
Second line, "hito mo arikeru," means "there were those who did," speaking of Narinobu and Shigeie, who took vows.
Third line, "yo no naka o," means "this world."
Fourth line, "itsu o itsu tote," means "thinking when is the time," speaking of never fixing a time to take vows.
Final line, "sugusu naruran," means "do we let the days pass," with "naru" assertive and "ran" the auxiliary of present conjecture.
Author: Fujiwara no Kintō
Source: Shui Wakashu
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