Nagaraete hito no makoto o miru beki ni koi ni inochi no taen mono ka wa

ながらへて人のまことを見るべきに
恋に命の絶えんものかは

Roma-ji: Nagaraete hito no makoto o miru beki ni koi ni inochi no taen mono ka wa
English Translation: I should live on long
and see at last how true
my beloved's heart—
how then could I let my life
be ended by this love?
Meaning: I ought to live on and see whether her heart is true—how then could I let my life end for love?
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1288

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "One hundred and ten love poems"
I should live on to see whether her heart is true; how could I let my life end for love? the poet says.
Though love's pain nearly ends his life, he spurs himself on, unable to die before he sees her true intent. In contrast to 1282, which spoke of loathing life, here a will to live is shown.

First line, “nagaraete”: living on.
Second line, “hito no makoto o”: her true heart.
Third line, “miru beki ni”: though I ought to see it.
Fourth line, “koi ni inochi no”: my life, for love.
Fifth line, “taen mono ka wa”: mono ka wa is rhetorical, "should it end? It must not."
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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