Shikishima ya taenuru michi ni nakunaku mo kimi to nomi koso ato o shinobame

敷島や絶えぬる道に泣く泣くも
君とのみこそ跡を偲ばめ

Roma-ji: Shikishima ya taenuru michi ni nakunaku mo kimi to nomi koso ato o shinobame
English Translation: On the Shikishima path,
the way of verse now broken off,
though weeping and weeping,
with you alone, I will
keep remembering its traces.
Meaning: Now that the way of poetry has been broken off, weeping though I am, with you alone I will cherish the memory of its traces.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1229

Headnote: "Reply"
This is Jakunen's reply to Saigyō's poem. Now that the way of poetry has ended, weeping as he goes, with Saigyō alone he will cherish its traces.
Taking in Saigyō's lament, he shows a friend's resolve that even in an age when poetry has declined, the two will keep and cherish its tradition. Ato, "traces," seems to overlay the traces of the way with the poetic achievements of Sutoku.

First line, “Shikishima ya”: Shikishima is Yamato, by extension the way of poetry; ya is exclamatory.
Second line, “taenuru michi ni”: on the way that has ended, answering "taenishi."
Third line, “nakunaku mo”: though weeping.
Fourth line, “kimi to nomi koso”: koso is emphatic, answered by the realis me in the fifth line.
Fifth line, “ato o shinobame”: me is volitional, "I will cherish its traces."
Author: Jakuzen
Source: Sankashu
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