秋風に露を涙と鳴く虫の
思ふ心を誰に問はまし
思ふ心を誰に問はまし
- Roma-ji
-
Akikaze ni tsuyu o namida to naku mushi no omou kokoro o tare ni towamashi
- English Translation
-
In the autumn wind
taking dewdrops for their tears,
the insects crying:
the feelings in their hearts,
of whom shall I inquire?
- Meaning
- In the autumn wind the insects cry, taking the dew as their tears. Whom could I ask what feelings fill their hearts?
- Commentary
-
Book Three Autumn Poems 122
Headnote: "Composed for the poetry contest of the Fourth Princess in the third year of Tenroku"
The author is listed here as an unnumbered poet, but the Shikashu attributes the poem to Tachibana no Masamichi. It was composed for the poetry contest of the Fourth Princess in Tenroku 3 (972).
The insects cry in the autumn wind, making the dew their tears, and the poet wonders whom he could ask what they feel. Taking up the likening of dew to insect tears in 118 in this book, it goes further to think of the insects' hearts. It closes the insect sequence.
The first line, "akikaze ni," means "in the autumn wind," the backdrop of the insects' voices.
The second line, "tsuyu o namida to," means "taking the dew as tears," the same conceit as 118 in this book.
The third line, "naku mushi no," repeats the opening words of the preceding poem, 120, carrying on the insect voices.
The fourth line, "omou kokoro o," means "the feelings in their hearts."
The last line, "tare ni towamashi," means "whom should I ask?" mashi expressing hesitation.
- Source
- Shika Wakashu
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Furusato ni kawarazarikeri suzumushi no Narumi no nobe no yūgure no koe
- Next Poem
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Ōsaka no sugima no tsuki no nakariseba ikuki no koma to ikade shiramashi