Itsu to naku koi ni kogaruru waga mi yori tatsu ya asama no keburi naruramu - Kinyo Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

いつとなく恋に焦がるる我が身より
立つや浅間の煙なるらむ

Roma-ji: Itsu to naku koi ni kogaruru waga mi yori tatsu ya asama no keburi naruramu
English Translation: At all times, unceasing,
from this body of mine that burns
with the fires of love
is it rising, I wonder,
the smoke of Mount Asama
Meaning: Is the smoke of Mount Asama, I wonder, the smoke that rises from this body of mine, forever burning with love?
Commentary: Book Seven Love Poems I 399

The poet wonders whether the smoke rising from his own body, ever burning with love, is the very smoke of Mount Asama. Seeing the smoking volcano as the fire of love, a bold exaggeration, the poem conveys a love that burns.
Some manuscripts give the headnote 'Composed on the sentiment of love at a poetry contest at Lord Saneyuki's house.' It would then be a poem on love from a contest held at the house of Fujiwara no Saneyuki.
The author, Toshiyori, is Minamoto no Toshiyori. A son of the Major Counselor Minamoto no Tsunenobu, he compiled this anthology at the command of Retired Emperor Shirakawa.

First line, 'itsu to naku', means at all times, without ceasing.
Second line, 'koi ni kogaruru', means burning with love, a word related to the smoke in the fourth line. The second line 'kogaruru mune mo' of poem 413 in this book likewise sings of a heart burning with love.
Third line, 'waga mi yori', means from my own body.
Fourth line, 'tatsu ya asama no', means is it rising, Asama's, the particle ya binding with the attributive ramu in the final line. Asama is a poetic place in Shinano known for its smoke.
Final line, 'keburi naruramu', means might it be the smoke, using the present conjecture ramu.
Author: Minamoto no Toshiyori
Source: Kinyo Wakashu
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