命あらばまたもあひなむ春なれど
忍びがたくて暮らす今日かな
忍びがたくて暮らす今日かな
- Roma-ji
-
Inochi araba mata mo ainamu haru naredo shinobigatakute kurasu kyō kana
- English Translation
-
If I should live on,
I shall meet it once again,
this spring, and yet
it is past bearing, the way
I pass this final day
- Meaning
- If I live, I shall surely meet the spring again, yet the parting is past bearing, and I spend this final day in sorrow.
- Commentary
-
Book Two Spring Poems II 123
Headnote: "Composed on the last day of the Third Month"
Composed on the last day of the Third Month. As long as he lives, the poet says, he will surely meet the spring again next year; yet knowing it ends today, the pain of parting is past bearing, and he spends this day in sorrow. Reason promises a reunion, but the heart cannot help grieving today's farewell, revealing a deep attachment to spring.
The author, "Prince Tomohira, Minister of Central Affairs," is Prince Tomohira, seventh son of Emperor Murakami, who served as Minister of Central Affairs. Called the Later Chūsho Prince, he excelled in poetry and learning.
The second line of this text reads "mata mo ainamu," which does not agree with "mata mo aimimu" in the reading line. Here the text is followed.
First line, "inochi araba": a hypothetical condition, "if I have life."
Second line, "mata mo ainamu": "na" is the irrealis of the intensive "nu" and "mu" conjecture: "I shall surely meet it again."
Third line, "haru naredo": "do" is concessive: "it is spring, and yet."
Fourth line, "shinobigatakute": "shinobu" means to endure: "being hard to bear."
Fifth line, "kurasu kyō kana": "kurasu" means to pass the day and "kana" is exclamatory, expressing regret for this last day of spring. The next poem, 124, also depicts the evening at spring's end.
- Author
- Prince Tomohira
- Source
- Senzai Wakashu
- Prev Poem
-
Hana wa ne ni tori wa furusu ni kaeru nari haru no tomari o shiru hito zo naki
- Next Poem
-
Nagamureba omoiyarubeki kata zo naki haru no kagiri no yūgure no sora