Nakanaka ni omoishiru chō koto no ha wa towanu ni sugite urameshiki kana

なかなかに思ひ知るてふ言の葉は
問はぬに過ぎて恨めしきかな

Roma-ji: Nakanaka ni omoishiru chō koto no ha wa towanu ni sugite urameshiki kana
English Translation: All the more, the words
saying that you know my heart,
that you understand,
are more bitter than when you
send no word, no word at all!
Meaning: Your words saying that you understand my heart are, if anything, more bitter than sending me no word at all.
Commentary: Love Poems 688

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Love"
To be told by the beloved, 'I understand your feelings well,' is more bitter than to receive no word at all. Words from one who understands his heart yet will not answer it wound him more deeply than being ignored.
Following the preceding poem's wish for at least some kindness, this one finds that words of kindness are all the more bitter, the two poems showing the heart wavering over kindness.

First line, “nakanaka ni”: on the contrary, all the more.
Second line, “omoishiru chō”: chō is a contraction of to iu: saying that she understands.
Third line, “koto no ha wa”: the words.
Fourth line, “towanu ni sugite”: tou is to visit or send word: more than sending no word at all.
Fifth line, “urameshiki kana”: kana is exclamatory: how bitter it is!
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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