Yo no naka o somukihatenu to iiokan omoishiru beki hito wa naku tomo

世の中を背き果てぬと言ひ置かん
思ひ知るべき人はなくとも

Roma-ji: Yo no naka o somukihatenu to iiokan omoishiru beki hito wa naku tomo
English Translation: That I have turned away
from this world for good, I will
leave these words behind,
even though there may be none
who will understand my heart.
Meaning: Let me leave word that I have turned my back on the world for good, even if there is no one who will understand what is in my heart.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 726

Headnote: "Sent to a relative at the time I left the world"
This poem was sent to a relative when the poet took vows. Let me leave word that I have wholly turned my back on the world, even if there is no one to understand what lies in my heart. The words announcing his resolve carry the loneliness of perhaps not being understood and a determination that nonetheless does not waver.
The poem is also included among the miscellaneous poems of the Shinkokinshū.

First line, “yo no naka o”: the world.
Second line, “somukihatenu to”: somuku is to turn from the world and take vows; hatenu, to have done so completely.
Third line, “iiokan”: n expresses intention, I will leave these words; the poem breaks here.
Fourth line, “omoishiru beki”: one who would understand.
Fifth line, “hito wa naku tomo”: tomo is a concessive, even if there is no one, inverted to follow the third line.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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