第四十九番 大中臣能宣朝臣
みかきもり 衛士のたく火の 夜は燃え
昼は消えつつ 物をこそ思へ
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ure, here's a refined translation and interpretation of the poem:
Original:
御垣守 衛士の焚く火の 夜は燃え[て] 昼は消えつつ 物をこそ思へ
(Mikakimori ejino taku hi no, Yoru wa moe, Hiru wa kietsutsu, Mono wo koso omohe)
Translation:
The guards' fire at the royal gate, Burns brightly at night, but fades in the daytime. Just like this fire, my worries about my love Never cease.
Interpretation:
- Guards' Fire as Symbol: The poem uses the image of a fire, lit by guards at the royal gate, as a metaphor for the speaker's love.
- Passionate at Night, Uncertain in Daytime: The fire burning brightly at night symbolizes the intensity of the speaker's love, while its fading during the day represents their worries about the future of their relationship.
- Constant Anxieties: The phrase "mono wo koso omohe" (literally "things I think") suggests the speaker's constant anxieties and worries about their love.
Historical Context:
This poem is from the Hyakunin Isshu (One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each) anthology, compiled in the 13th century. The author, Fujiwara no Kinto (966-1041), was a prominent poet and statesman during the Heian period.
Possible Reasons for Worry:
- Social Constraints: Strict social hierarchies and expectations in Heian period Japan could have caused the speaker to worry about expressing their love openly.
- Uncertainty of the Beloved's Feelings: The poem doesn't reveal the beloved's feelings, leaving the speaker with anxieties about their love's reciprocation.
Overall, the poem expresses a bittersweet longing and the anxieties associated with love in a society with social constraints. The fire's impermanence reflects the speaker's worries about the future of their relationship.
Thank you for sharing this poem! It's a beautiful example of using a natural element to express complex emotions in a concise waka form.
<Another Feedback>
Here is my translation and interpretation of the poem:
Original:
御垣守 衛士の焚く火の 夜は燃え[て] 昼は消えつつ 物をこそ思へ
(Mikakimori ejino taku hi no yoru wa moe hiru wa kietsutsu mono wo koso omohe)
Translation:
The guards' fire at the royal gate Burns at night, but fades in the daytime. Just like this fire, My worries about my love never cease.
Interpretation:
The poem uses the image of a fire, lit by guards at the royal gate, as a metaphor for the speaker's love.
- Passionate and Constant at Night: The fire burning brightly at night symbolizes the intensity and constancy of the speaker's love.
- Fading Uncertainty in Daytime: The fire fading during the day represents the speaker's worries and uncertainties about the future of their love.
- Anxious Longing: "Mono wo koso omohe" (literally "things I think") suggests the speaker's constant anxieties and worries about their relationship.
Overall, the poem expresses a bittersweet longing and the anxieties associated with love in a society with social constraints. The fire's impermanence reflects the speaker's worries about the future of their relationship.
This poem is an example of a waka, a type of Japanese poem that follows a specific 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern.Waka poems are often used to express complex emotions in a concise and elegant way.
I hope this translation and interpretation is helpful!