Tomo sureba tsuki sumu sora ni akugaruru kokoro no hate o shiru yoshi mo gana

ともすれば月澄む空にあくがるる
心の果てを知るよしもがな

Roma-ji: Tomo sureba tsuki sumu sora ni akugaruru kokoro no hate o shiru yoshi mo gana
English Translation: All too easily
into the sky where the moon
shines clear it wanders,
this heart of mine, if I could
know where it will end at last!
Meaning: If only I could know where it will end, this heart that all too easily wanders off into the sky where the moon shines clear.
Commentary: Love Poems 647

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "The moon"
All too often, the poet's heart leaves his body and drifts out into the sky where the moon shines clear. If only there were a way to know where that heart will finally end up. The heart drawn away from the body by love is entrusted to the expanse of the moonlit sky.

First line, “tomo sureba”: all too often, at any moment.
Second line, “tsuki sumu sora ni”: into the sky where the moon shines clear, answering the topic.
Third line, “akugaruru”: akugaru is for the heart to leave the body and wander off.
Fourth line, “kokoro no hate o”: where the heart will finally end up.
Fifth line, “shiru yoshi mo gana”: yoshi is a means, and mogana a particle of wishing: if only there were a way to know.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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