Izuku ni ka mi o kakusamashi itoite mo ukiyo ni fukaki yama nakarise

いづくにか身を隠さまし厭ひても
憂き世に深き山なかりせ

Roma-ji: Izuku ni ka mi o kakusamashi itoite mo ukiyo ni fukaki yama nakarise
English Translation: Where in all the world
could I hide myself away,
though I loathe it so,
if within this weary world
there were no deep mountains?
Meaning: Where could I ever hide myself, loathing the world as I do, if there were no deep mountains in this weary world?
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 909

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Five poems expressing my thoughts"
This is the second of the five. Even loathing the world, where could I hide myself if there were no deep mountains in this weary world? the poet asks, saying that for one who loathes the world, the deep mountains are the only refuge.

First line, “izuku ni ka”: ka is a question particle answered by mashi in the second line.
Second line, “mi o kakusamashi”: mashi is counterfactual; where should I hide? The poem breaks here.
Third line, “itoite mo”: even loathing the world.
Fourth line, “ukiyo ni fukaki”: deep within the weary world.
Fifth line, “yama nakarise”: the main text has nakarise, not matching nakariseba in the line of readings, but the main text is followed; taken as the counterfactual nakariseba, had there been no mountains, inverted to follow the second line.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
Prev Poem: Mi no usa o omoishirade ya yaminamashi somuku narai no naki yo nariseba
Next Poem: Mi no usa no kakurega ni sen yamazato wa kokoro arite zo sumu bekarikeru