Machikanete sayo mo Fukei no urakaze ni tanomenu nami no oto nomi zo suru - Senzai Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

待ちかねてさ夜もふけひの浦風に
頼めぬ浪の音のみぞする

Roma-ji: Machikanete sayo mo Fukei no urakaze ni tanomenu nami no oto nomi zo suru
English Translation: Weary of waiting,
the night grows late at Fukei,
on the wind of the bay,
from waves that promise nothing,
only their sound comes to me
Meaning: Tired of waiting, the night grows late at Fukei Bay, and on the sea wind comes only the sound of waves that promise nothing.
Commentary: Book Fourteen Love Poems IV 879

Headnote: "Composed on the topic 'love in terms of a bay'"
This poem was composed on the topic "love in terms of a bay." Tired of waiting, she says, the night grows late, and on the wind of Fukei Bay comes only the sound of waves that promise nothing. Pivoting the name of Fukei Bay in Izumi with "fuke," "growing late," she overlays the night deepening as she waits for her beloved with the sound of waves carried on the sea wind. In the image of waves, which promised no visit, alone resounding, she entrusts the loneliness of one who waits.
The author, "Nijōin no Naishi no Mikawa," was a lady-in-waiting who served Emperor Nijō.

First line, "machikanete": "unable to wait any longer," "weary of waiting" for the beloved's visit.
Second line, "sayo mo Fukei no": "sayo" means night, with "sa" a prefix setting the rhythm. "Fukei" pivots between the night "growing late" and the place name Fukei in Izumi.
Third line, "urakaze ni": "on the wind blowing at Fukei Bay," answering "bay" in the topic. "Fuku," "to blow," in "Fukei" and "kaze," "wind," echo each other.
Fourth line, "tanomenu nami no": "tanomu" in its lower bigrade conjugation means to make someone rely on, to raise hopes. "Nu" is the negative auxiliary, "of waves that raise no hope of a visit."
Fifth line, "oto nomi zo suru": "nomi" is restrictive and "zo" an emphatic particle that binds with the attributive "suru." "Only the sound of waves": it closes by hinting that the awaited one does not come.
Author: Nijōin no Naishi no Mikawa
Source: Senzai Wakashu
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