Nani to naku sasuga ni oshiki inochi kana arieba hito ya omoishiru tote

何となくさすがに惜しき命かな
ありへば人や思ひ知るとて

Roma-ji: Nani to naku sasuga ni oshiki inochi kana arieba hito ya omoishiru tote
English Translation: Somehow, all the same,
it is precious after all,
this my life to me,
for if I live on, I think,
you may come to know my heart.
Meaning: Somehow, all the same, my life is precious to me, for I think that if I live on, you may yet come to understand my feelings.
Commentary: Love Poems 658

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Love"
In the pain of love the poet thinks he no longer cares what becomes of his life, and yet somehow he finds it precious after all. That is because, if he lives on, perhaps one day the beloved will come to understand his feelings. The poem catches a faint hope that does not die even in despair.
It was included in the second book of love poems of the Shinkokinshū.

First line, “nani to naku”: somehow, for no particular reason.
Second line, “sasuga ni oshiki”: sasuga ni is all the same: though I think I do not care, still precious.
Third line, “inochi kana”: kana is exclamatory; the poem breaks after the third line.
Fourth line, “arieba hito ya”: arifu is to live on; the particle ya marks a question.
Fifth line, “omoishiru tote”: thinking she might come to understand, an inversion giving the reason for the upper verse.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
Prev Poem: Nageku tomo shiraba ya hito no onozukara aware to omou koto mo aru beki
Next Poem: Nani yue ka kyō made mono o omowamashi inochi ni kaete au yo nariseba