いかなれば待つには出づる月なれど
入るを心にまかせざるらむ
入るを心にまかせざるらむ
- Roma-ji
-
Ika nareba matsu ni wa izuru tsuki naredo iru o kokoro ni makasezaruramu
- English Translation
-
Why is it, I wonder,
that though the moon will come out
if only I wait,
when it comes to its setting
it won't heed my heart's desire
- Meaning
- Why is it that the moon, though it comes out if only I wait, will not leave its setting to my heart's wish?
- Commentary
-
Book Nine Miscellaneous Poems I 299
The moon will rise if one only waits, yet its setting cannot be held back; the poem voices regret at losing the moon. In the contrast between a rising that answers the waiting heart and a setting that will not obey, it carries a reluctance to part.
Following the preceding poem, 298, which watched the moon from rising to setting, this poem laments the moon's setting.
The first line, "ika nareba" (why is it), poses a question that answers to "ramu" in the final line.
The second line, "matsu ni wa izuru," uses "wa": when awaited, it comes out.
The third line, "tsuki naredo," uses the concessive "do": though it is such a moon.
The fourth line, "iru o kokoro ni," refers to the moon's setting, taking up "iru made" in the preceding poem.
The final line, "makasezaruramu," combines the negative "zu" and conjectural "ramu": why does it not leave it to my heart?
- Author
- Fujiwara no Kinzane
- Source
- Shika Wakashu
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Kimi matsu to yama no ha idete yama no ha ni iru made tsuki o nagametsuru kana
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Kokoromi ni hoka no tsuki o mo miteshi kana waga yadokara no aware naru ka to