Ōnami ni hikare idetaru kokochi shite tasukebune naki oki ni yuraruru

大波に引かれ出でたる心地して
助け舟なき沖に揺らるる

Roma-ji: Ōnami ni hikare idetaru kokochi shite tasukebune naki oki ni yuraruru
English Translation: As if a great wave
had pulled me out from the shore,
so I feel, and here
on the open sea I'm tossed,
with no boat to come to save me.
Meaning: I feel as though a great wave has pulled me out to sea, and I am tossed upon the open water where no rescue boat will come.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 847

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "From among the many poems on impermanence that I composed"
As if a great wave had pulled me out to sea, I am tossed on the open water where no rescue boat will come, the poet says. Taking up the untied boat of the preceding poem, he tells of the dread of being finally swept away and drifting beyond help, a figure for drifting on the bitter sea of birth and death.

First line, “ōnami ni”: by a great wave.
Second line, “hikare idetaru”: pulled out.
Third line, “kokochi shite”: feeling as if.
Fourth line, “tasukebune naki”: with no rescue boat.
Fifth line, “oki ni yuraruru”: tossed on the open sea, closing in the attributive with a sigh.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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