classic waka stream

なべてみな君が嘆きを訪ふ数に
思ひなされぬ言の葉もがな
Roma-ji

Nabete mina kimi ga nageki o tou kazu ni omoinasarenu koto no ha mogana

English Translation
All of them alike
come to console you in your grief;
would that I had words
you would not take as only
one more among the many.
Meaning
If only I had words that you would not count as just one more among all those who come to console you in your grief.
Commentary
Miscellaneous Poems 802

Headnote: "On behalf of someone who had not called on a person grieving the loss of a parent until the fifty days had passed, and hearing that the mourner, puzzled that one who should have called had not, was asking others why, sent word that he had held back for this reason / Saying 'I let the time go by thinking thus,' he replied in this way"
Someone had not called on a person mourning a parent until the fifty days had passed, and heard that the mourner, puzzled, was asking others why. Saigyō composed this in that person's place, to explain that he had held back for a reason. If only I had words you would not count as just one more among all who console you, he writes, explaining that he delayed because ordinary condolences could not express his heart.

First line, “nabete mina”: everyone alike.
Second line, “kimi ga nageki o”: your grief.
Third line, “tou kazu ni”: among the number who come to console.
Fourth line, “omoinasarenu”: not thought of so.
Fifth line, “koto no ha mogana”: mogana expresses a wish, if only there were such words.
Author
Saigyō
Source
Sankashu
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