Tsuki o mite izure no toshi no aki made ka kono yo ni ware ga chisari aruran

月を見ていづれの年の秋までか
この世に我がちさりあるらん

Roma-ji: Tsuki o mite izure no toshi no aki made ka kono yo ni ware ga chisari aruran
English Translation: Gazing at the moon,
until the autumn of what
year, I wonder, will
my bond with this world endure
so that I may see it still?
Meaning: Gazing at the moon, I wonder until the autumn of which year it is my lot to remain in this world and see it so.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 773

Headnote: "Expressing my thoughts before the moon"
The topic is expressing one's feelings before the moon. Until the autumn of what year will I be able to gaze at the moon like this, how long does my bond with this world last, the poet wonders. Before the beautiful moon, he thinks of the limit of his own life.

First line, “tsuki o mite”: gazing at the moon, answering 'before the moon' in the topic.
Second line, “izure no toshi no”: of which year, a question.
Third line, “aki made ka”: the question particle ka is answered by ran in the fifth line.
Fourth line, “kono yo ni ware ga”: my, in this world.
Fifth line, “chisari aruran”: written chisari in the text but taken as chigiri, the bond of karma; ran is conjecture about the present.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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