Michi tōshi koshi wa futae ni kagamareri tsue ni sugarite koko made mo kuru

道遠し腰は二重にかがまれり
杖にすがりてここまでも来る

Roma-ji: Michi tōshi koshi wa futae ni kagamareri tsue ni sugarite koko made mo kuru
English Translation: The road is so long,
and my back is bent in two,
crooked and stooped;
leaning hard upon my staff
even this far I come.
Meaning: The road is long, and my back is bent double; yet, leaning on my staff, I have come even this far.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 682

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "At a place called Tsuchiya in Sagami there was a decrepit monk past ninety who came to me of his own accord; while telling tales of old, he wept as he told me he could no longer stand or sit, and then left. At that time I had my people compose on the theme of old age, and I too composed"
The road is long and the back bent double, yet leaning on a staff the old man has come this far. Like a direct sketch of the visiting monk, it shows the pitiable body of old age and the heart that still makes the journey.
The text transmitted by Teika spells line 4 differently, and the Ruijū text line 5.

Line 1 means "the road is far," with a break after the line.
Line 2 means "my back in two," bent deeply.
Line 3 means "is bowed," ri expressing a continuing state, with a break after the line.
Line 4 means "clinging to my staff," moving from the inner remembering of the three preceding poems to the old monk's visible form.
Line 5 means "I come even this far."
Author: Minamoto no Sanetomo
Source: Kinkaishu
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