恋ひ死なば世のはかなきに言ひ置きて
なき跡までも人に知られじ
なき跡までも人に知られじ
- Roma-ji
-
Koishinaba yo no hakanaki ni iiokite naki ato made mo hito ni shirareji
- English Translation
-
Should I die of love,
I shall leave word that it was
the frailty of the world,
so that even after death
none shall know my love for you
- Meaning
- If I should die of love, I will leave word that it was only the fleetingness of this world that took me, so that even after I am gone no one will know the truth.
- Commentary
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Book Eleven Love Poems I 666
Headnote: "Composed on the topic 'Hidden Love' when a poetry contest was held"
Composed on the topic "Hidden love" when a poetry contest was held. Should I die of love, he says, I will leave word that it was the frailty of the world, so that even after death none shall know. Even if he loses his life for love, he will blame it on the impermanence of the world and keep his love secret beyond death: it is the ultimate resolve of hidden love.
The author, "Yorisuke, Minister of Justice," is Fujiwara no Yorisuke. The son of Major Counselor Fujiwara no Tadanori, he served as Minister of Justice and was known as a master of kemari, the courtly football game.
The next poem, 667, stands under the same headnote and sings of hidden love at the same poetry contest.
First line, "koishinaba": "shina" is the irrealis of "shinu," and with "ba" it makes a hypothesis, "if I should die of love."
Second line, "yo no hakanaki ni": "that it was the frailty of the world."
Third line, "iiokite": "leaving word behind."
Fourth line, "naki ato made mo": "even after I am dead."
Fifth line, "hito ni shirareji": "re" is the irrealis of the passive "ru," and "ji" the negative volitional, "I shall not be known." It carries the topic's "hidden love" beyond death.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Yorisuke
- Source
- Senzai Wakashu
- Prev Poem
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Naniwame no sukumo taku hi no shitakogare ue wa tsurenaki waga mi narikeri
- Next Poem
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Hito shirenu namida no kawa no minakami ya Iwade no yama no tani no shitamizu