命あらば逢ふ世もあらむ世の中に
など死ぬばかり思ふ心ぞ
など死ぬばかり思ふ心ぞ
- Roma-ji
-
Inochi araba au yo mo aramu yo no naka ni nado shinu bakari omou kokoro zo
- English Translation
-
As long as I live
there will surely come a time
in this world to meet —
why then does my heart long so
that it would die of longing
- Meaning
- As long as I am alive, there must come a time in this world when we can meet; why, then, does my heart long for you so much that it feels it could die?
- Commentary
-
Book Seven Love Poems I 195
The poet wonders at his own heart: if he simply stays alive, a day to meet should surely come, so why does he long to the point of death? Through self-questioning, the poem shows a passion that reason understands but cannot restrain.
The first line, "inochi araba" (if I live), sets a hypothetical condition.
The second line, "au yo mo aramu," uses the conjectural "mu" to foresee that a time to meet will surely come.
The third line, "yo no naka ni" (in this world), repeats "yo" from the second line, calling to mind both this world and the bond between lovers.
The fourth line, "nado shinu bakari" (why to the point of death), asks with the interrogative "nado."
The final line, "omou kokoro zo" (a heart that longs so), presses the question emphatically with "zo," reflecting on a heart that thinks of dying of love.
- Source
- Shika Wakashu
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