Imu to iite kage ni ataranu koyoi shi mo warete tsuki miru na ya tachinuran

忌むと言ひて影に当たらぬ今宵しも
われて月見る名や立ちぬらん

Roma-ji: Imu to iite kage ni ataranu koyoi shi mo warete tsuki miru na ya tachinuran
English Translation: On this very night,
when they shun the light, saying
it is ill-omened,
might a name have spread for me
as one who forces to see the moon?
Meaning: On this very night, when people shun the moonlight as ill-omened, might I have gained a name as one who insists on gazing at the moon?
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1154

Headnote: "Composing a poem on the topic of a lunar eclipse"
Composed on the topic of a lunar eclipse. On this night, when others avoid the moonlight as unlucky, might he have earned a reputation as one who insists on looking at the moon?
A lunar eclipse was shunned as an ill omen, and people avoided being touched by its light. With light humor the poem portrays the poet, who loves the moon so much he breaks even this taboo to look at it. Warete, "forcibly," also suggests the moon "breaking," waning in eclipse.

First line, “imu to iite”: saying it is ill-omened; the line has an extra syllable.
Second line, “kage ni ataranu”: not being touched by the moonlight.
Third line, “koyoi shi mo”: shi mo stresses "this very night."
Fourth line, “warete tsuki miru”: warete means "forcibly," also echoing the moon breaking in eclipse.
Fifth line, “na ya tachinuran”: ya questions, answered by ran, "might a name have arisen?"
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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