Mukashi waga atsumeshi mono o omoiidete minaregao ni mo kuru hotaru kana - Senzai Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

昔わが集めしものを思ひ出でて
見馴れ顔にも来る蛍かな

Roma-ji: Mukashi waga atsumeshi mono o omoiidete minaregao ni mo kuru hotaru kana
English Translation: Remembering, perhaps,
how long ago I gathered them
to light my studies,
here the fireflies come to me
with such a knowing air
Meaning: As if remembering how I once gathered them long ago, the fireflies come to me with such a familiar air.
Commentary: Book Three Summer Poems 201

Headnote: "Composed as a poem on fireflies when presenting a hundred-poem sequence"
Composed on "fireflies" for a hundred-poem sequence presented to Retired Emperor Sutoku. As if remembering that the poet once gathered them for light to study by, the fireflies come to him with a familiar air. Drawing on the tale of Che Yin, who read by the light of fireflies, he casts himself as the student of the story and portrays the fireflies affectionately, like old friends. Poems on fireflies begin here.
The author, "Fujiwara no Suemichi Ason," was the son of Provisional Major Counselor Fujiwara no Munemichi and younger brother of Chancellor Fujiwara no Koremichi. He was also renowned as a master of the biwa and koto, and was one of the poets of Retired Emperor Sutoku's Kyūan Hundred-Poem Sequence.
It draws on the "fireflies and snow" story of Che Yin of the Jin dynasty, who was too poor to buy lamp oil and so gathered fireflies to read by their light.

First line, "mukashi waga": "long ago, I."
Second line, "atsumeshi mono o": "shi" is the attributive past auxiliary: "that I once gathered them," referring to gathering fireflies to study by, as in Che Yin's story.
Third line, "omoiidete": "remembering it," as if on the fireflies' part.
Fourth line, "minaregao ni mo": "minaregao" is a look of familiarity, portraying the fireflies as old friends.
Fifth line, "kuru hotaru kana": the exclamatory "kana." The next poem, 202, also treats fireflies.
Author: Fujiwara no Suemichi
Source: Senzai Wakashu
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