Kakaru yo ni kage mo kawarazu sumu tsuki o miru waga mi sae urameshiki kana

かかる世に影も変はらず澄む月を
見る我が身さへ恨めしきかな

Roma-ji: Kakaru yo ni kage mo kawarazu sumu tsuki o miru waga mi sae urameshiki kana
English Translation: In an age like this,
the moon that shines on so clear,
its light unchanged still—
even I, who gaze at it,
seem hateful in my own eyes.
Meaning: In such an age as this, the moon shines on, its light unchanged, and even I who gaze at it seem hateful to myself.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1227

Headnote: "A great upheaval occurred in the world; the New Retired Emperor was brought to an unthinkable state, took the tonsure, and was at the Northern Cloister of Ninnaji. When I went there, the Ajari Kenken came out to meet me, and as the moon was bright I composed this"
A great upheaval, the Hōgen Disturbance, had struck; the New Retired Emperor, Sutoku, brought to an unimaginable fate, had taken vows and was at the Northern Cloister of Ninnaji. Saigyō went there, was met by the Ajari Kenken, and, the moon being bright, composed this. In such an age the moon shines on unchanged, and even he who looks at it seems hateful to himself.
Before Sutoku's misfortune, he resents both the moon shining as though nothing had happened and himself for gazing at it. That Saigyō, the lover of the moon, should find even the moon hateful reveals his deep feeling and grief for the retired emperor. Poems concerning Sutoku follow.

First line, “kakaru yo ni”: in such an age, the world after the Hōgen Disturbance.
Second line, “kage mo kawarazu”: its light unchanged.
Third line, “sumu tsuki o”: the moon shining clear.
Fourth line, “miru waga mi sae”: sae adds, "even I who look at it."
Fifth line, “urameshiki kana”: kana is exclamatory, "how hateful."
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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