Arenikeru sawada no aze ni kurara oite aki matsu beku mo naki watari kana

荒れにける沢田の畔に苦参生ひて
秋待つべくもなきわたりかな

Roma-ji: Arenikeru sawada no aze ni kurara oite aki matsu beku mo naki watari kana
English Translation: On the ridges of
the marshy fields gone to waste,
bitter weeds grow thick,
a place where no autumn yield
could ever be hoped for now.
Meaning: On the ridges of the marshy fields gone to ruin, the bitter kurara grows, a place where no one could hope for an autumn harvest.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 981

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
On the ridges of the marshy fields gone to ruin, kurara grows thick, a place where none could hope for the autumn harvest, the poet says, picturing, in contrast to the path between paddies of the preceding poem, the loneliness of fields abandoned by those who tilled them.

First line, “arenikeru”: gone to ruin.
Second line, “sawada no aze ni”: sawada are wet fields near a marsh; taking up aze, the ridge, of the preceding poem.
Third line, “kurara oite”: kurara is a plant of the pea family with bitter roots; a line of six syllables.
Fourth line, “aki matsu beku mo”: to await the autumn harvest.
Fifth line, “naki watari kana”: watari is the area around; kana is exclamatory.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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