柴の庵と聞くはくやしき名なれども
世に好もしき住まひなりけり
世に好もしき住まひなりけり
- Roma-ji
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Shiba no io to kiku wa kuyashiki na naredomo yo ni konomoshiki sumai narikeri
- English Translation
-
'A hut of brushwood,'
the name is a sorry one
when you hear it said,
and yet truly it is
the most pleasing of dwellings.
- Meaning
- To hear it called a hut of brushwood, the name sounds a sorry one, and yet it is truly the most delightful of dwellings.
- Commentary
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Miscellaneous Poems 725
Headnote: "Some time ago, when I visited the hermitage of a holy man called Amida-bō at Higashiyama, I was somehow moved and composed this"
Some time ago the poet visited the hermitage of the holy man Amida-bō at Higashiyama and, somehow moved, composed this poem. Called 'a hut of brushwood,' it sounds a poor and sorry name, yet seen for oneself it is truly a most pleasing dwelling. The poem shows Saigyō, before taking vows, drawn to the simple life of the recluse.
First line, “shiba no io to”: a humble hut of brushwood, a line of six syllables.
Second line, “kiku wa kuyashiki”: kuyashi is sorry or disappointing; sorry to hear.
Third line, “na naredomo”: though it is such a name, leading by contrast into the lower verse.
Fourth line, “yo ni konomoshiki”: yo ni is an adverb, truly.
Fifth line, “sumai narikeri”: narikeri marks the realization of its charm on seeing it for oneself.
- Author
- Saigyō
- Source
- Sankashu
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