山城の石田の杜のいはずとも
心のうちを照らせ月影
心のうちを照らせ月影
- Roma-ji
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Yamashiro no Iwata no mori no iwazu tomo kokoro no uchi o terase tsukikage
- English Translation
-
Like the Iwata
forest in Yamashiro,
though I do not speak,
shine into my heart of hearts,
O light of the moon above
- Meaning
- Though I say nothing, like the name of Iwata Forest in Yamashiro, shine into the depths of my heart, O moonlight.
- Commentary
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Book Nine Miscellaneous Poems I 304
Calling to the moonlight, the poet asks it to shine into the heart and see through it, even though nothing is spoken. From the sound "iwata" of Iwata Forest in Yamashiro, the poem draws out "iwazu" (without speaking), entrusting a hidden feeling to the moon.
The first line, "Yamashiro no," names Yamashiro Province; the first two lines form a preface leading to the like-sounding "iwazu."
The second line, "Iwata no mori no," names a poetic place in Yamashiro whose sound "iwata" calls up "iwazu" in the third line.
The third line, "iwazu tomo," uses the concessive "tomo": though I do not speak.
The fourth line, "kokoro no uchi o" (my inmost heart), refers to unspoken feelings.
The final line, "terase tsukikage," calls on the moonlight with the imperative "terase" (shine). Poem 295 of this book also ends with "tsukikage."
- Source
- Shika Wakashu
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