classic waka stream

近江路やのちの旅人急がなん
やす河原とて遠からぬかは
Roma-ji

Ōmiji ya nochi no tabibito isoganan Yasukawara tote tōkaranu ka wa

English Translation
On the Ōmi road,
travelers coming after,
make haste on your way;
though called Yasu, the riverbed,
is it not far off indeed?
Meaning
On the Ōmi road, let the travelers coming behind make haste; though called Yasu, easy, the riverbed is far enough away.
Commentary
Miscellaneous Poems 1007

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
On the Ōmi road, let the travelers coming behind make haste, for Yasukawara is no easy, near place, whatever its name, the poet says. Yasukawara is the riverbed of the Yasu River in Ōmi, and he joins its yasu with yasushi, easy, in calling out to the travelers.

First line, “Ōmiji ya”: the Ōmi road; ya is exclamatory.
Second line, “nochi no tabibito”: travelers coming after; nochi echoes Noji, a place name in Ōmi.
Third line, “isoganan”: nan expresses a wish, let them hurry; the poem breaks here.
Fourth line, “Yasukawara tote”: yasu is a pivot word joining the place name and easy.
Fifth line, “tōkaranu ka wa”: ka wa is rhetorical; is it not far?
Author
Saigyō
Source
Sankashu
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