Tachiyorite shiba no keburi no awaresa o ikaga omoishi fuyu no yamazato

立ち寄りて柴の煙のあはれさを
いかが思ひし冬の山里

Roma-ji: Tachiyorite shiba no keburi no awaresa o ikaga omoishi fuyu no yamazato
English Translation: Stopping by my hut,
the smoke from the brushwood fire,
its forlorn sadness,
what then did you think of it,
here in the winter village?
Meaning: When you stopped by, how did the sad charm of the brushwood smoke strike you here in this winter mountain village?
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 736

Headnote: "When I heard that a certain person had changed their appearance and was living in a place deep within Ninnaji, I went to visit, but was told they had gone briefly to the capital and came home; afterward I sent word that I had called, and this was their reply"
Hearing that a certain person had taken vows and lived deep within Ninnaji, Saigyō went to visit, but was told the person had gone briefly to the capital and so went home. When he later sent word that he had called, this poem came as the reply. The author is given only as a certain person, and who it was is unknown. With an apology for being away, the poem asks how he felt the sadness of the brushwood smoke in the winter mountain village.

First line, “tachiyorite”: stopping by, Saigyō's visit.
Second line, “shiba no keburi no”: the smoke of burning brushwood, an emblem of a humble mountain dwelling.
Third line, “awaresa o”: its deep and quiet sadness.
Fourth line, “ikaga omoishi”: what did you think of it, asking his impression.
Fifth line, “fuyu no yamazato”: ending on a noun, naming the winter mountain village where the speaker lives.
Source: Sankashu
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