今日のみと思へば長き春の日も
ほどなく暮るる心地こそすれ
ほどなく暮るる心地こそすれ
- Roma-ji
-
Kyō nomi to omoeba nagaki haru no hi mo hodonaku kururu kokochi koso sure
- English Translation
-
When I think today
is the last, the long spring day
seems in its turn too
short, and soon to reach its close,
so it feels to me at least.
- Meaning
- When I think that today is the last, even the long spring day feels as though it will soon be over.
- Commentary
-
Spring Poems 172
Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Composed when the third month ended one day short"
When the poet thinks that this is the last day of spring, even the spring day, long by nature, seems to be ending all too soon.
Contrasting the common sense that spring days are long with the brevity felt by a heart that grieves their passing, the poem expresses regret for the last day of spring. Following the preceding poem's lament that the month ended a day short, time presses toward the final day of spring.
First line, “kyō nomi to”: that today alone remains of spring.
Second line, “omoeba nagaki”: when I think so, the long.
Third line, “haru no hi mo”: even the spring day.
Fourth line, “hodonaku kururu”: soon ending.
Fifth line, “kokochi koso sure”: the emphatic koso forms a kakari-musubi with the perfective sure, closing firmly with so it feels.
- Author
- Saigyō
- Source
- Sankashu
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