Ikaga sen ato no aware wa towazu tomo wakareshi hito no yukue tazuneyo

いかがせん跡のあはれは訪はずとも
別れし人の行方尋ねよ

Roma-ji: Ikaga sen ato no aware wa towazu tomo wakareshi hito no yukue tazuneyo
English Translation: What is to be done?
Though you do not come to call
on the grief behind,
at least seek out, for the one
who has gone, where he now goes.
Meaning: What can be done? Even if you do not come to console the grief of those left behind, at least seek out where the departed has gone.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 836

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "When my elder brother, the lay priest Sōkū, passed away and you did not come to call, I sent this"
This is the fourth of Jakuzen's five. It cannot be helped if you do not console those left behind, but at least seek out where my late brother has gone and pray for him, he writes, asking Saigyō to pray for the departed's salvation.

First line, “ikaga sen”: what is to be done; the poem breaks here.
Second line, “ato no aware wa”: the grief of those left behind.
Third line, “towazu tomo”: tomo is concessive, even if you do not call.
Fourth line, “wakareshi hito no”: of the one who has parted, the late brother.
Fifth line, “yukue tazuneyo”: an imperative, seek where he has gone, praying for his life to come.
Author: Jakuzen
Source: Sankashu
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