Asaku ideshi kokoro no mizu ya tatauran sumiyuku mama ni fukaku naru kana

浅く出でし心の水やたたふらん
すみゆくままに深くなるかな

Roma-ji: Asaku ideshi kokoro no mizu ya tatauran sumiyuku mama ni fukaku naru kana
English Translation: The water of the heart
that welled up shallow at first,
has it now brimmed full?
As I dwell on and it clears,
how it deepens more and more.
Meaning: Has the water of the heart, which welled up shallow at first, now brimmed full? As I dwell on and it grows clear, it deepens more and more.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 914

Headnote: "When at the Omuro of Ninnaji I was bidden to compose on the topic 'the mind of the Way deepens year by year'"
This was composed at the bidding of the Omuro of Ninnaji, the imperial prince who headed the temple, on the topic that the mind seeking the Way deepens with the years. Has the water of the heart, shallow when it first welled up, now brimmed full? As I dwell on and it grows clear, it deepens, the poet says.

First line, “asaku ideshi”: welling up shallow at first; a line of six syllables.
Second line, “kokoro no mizu ya”: the heart likened to water, answering 'the mind of the Way'; ya is answered by ran in the third line.
Third line, “tatauran”: tatau is to brim; the poem breaks here.
Fourth line, “sumiyuku mama ni”: sumi is a pivot word joining dwelling in the mountains and the water growing clear, answering 'year by year.'
Fifth line, “fukaku naru kana”: it grows deep, answering 'deepens' and set against asaku in the first line.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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