冬の日を春より長くなすものは
恋ひつつ暮らす心なりけり
恋ひつつ暮らす心なりけり
- Roma-ji
-
Fuyu no hi o haru yori nagaku nasu mono wa koitsutsu kurasu kokoro narikeri
- English Translation
-
The winter day
longer than the days of spring—
what makes it so
is the heart that spends the day
in longing, I now find
- Meaning
- What makes a winter day longer than a day of spring, I now find, is a heart that spends the whole day in longing.
- Commentary
-
Book Thirteen Love Poems III 796
Headnote: "Topic unknown"
What makes the winter day longer than a spring day, he says, is a heart that spends the day in longing. Reversing the common sense of the seasons, that winter days are short and spring days long, he finds love's suffering in the changed sense of time, in which even a short winter day feels endless to a heart troubled by love.
The author, "the Hosshōji Lay Priest, Former Grand Chancellor," is Fujiwara no Tadamichi. The son of Chancellor Fujiwara no Tadazane, he served as Regent and Chancellor and rose to Grand Chancellor, later taking the tonsure and living at Hosshōji. He was the father of Fujiwara no Kanezane, Regent when this anthology was compiled, and a poem of his is included in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu.
First line, "fuyu no hi o": "the winter day," which should be short.
Second line, "haru yori nagaku": "longer than spring," overturning the common sense that winter days are short and spring days long.
Third line, "nasu mono wa": "what makes it so," a question answered in the lower half.
Fourth line, "koitsutsu kurasu": "tsutsu" expresses continuing action, "spending the day in endless longing."
Fifth line, "kokoro narikeri": "keri" expresses realization, "is the heart, I find," answering the question of the third line.
- Author
- Fujiwara no Tadamichi
- Source
- Senzai Wakashu
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