Suga no ne no nagaku mono o ba omowaji to tamukeshi kami ni inorishi mono o

菅の根の長く物をば思はじと
手向けし神に祈りしものを

Roma-ji: Suga no ne no nagaku mono o ba omowaji to tamukeshi kami ni inorishi mono o
English Translation: Like the sedge's roots,
long I'd not be lost in thought,
so I made my vow—
praying to the god to whom
I made offerings, and yet.
Meaning: I prayed, making offerings to the gods, that I would not brood long over love—and yet.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1294

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "One hundred and ten love poems"
He prayed with offerings to the gods that he would not brood long over love, and yet in vain, the poet says.
He prayed to escape love's suffering, but the prayer went unheeded and his brooding continues. The closing mono o trails off, leaving the futility of prayer in the air.

First line, “suga no ne no”: a pillow word for "long."
Second line, “nagaku mono o ba”: brooding for long.
Third line, “omowaji to”: ji is negative volition, "that I would not."
Fourth line, “tamukeshi kami ni”: to the god I made offerings to.
Fifth line, “inorishi mono o”: mono o is concessive, "though I prayed," trailing off.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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