Practise the thinking. Keep the judgement.
みかの原
Fujiwara no Kanesuke · 中納言兼輔
みかの原
わきて流るる
泉川
いつみきとてか
戀しかるらむ
Historical kana
みかのはら
わきてながるる
いづみがは
いつみきとてか
こひしかるらむ
Original English translation
The Izumi River wells up and flows across Mika Plain: when did I see you, that I should long for you so?
History and context
Kanesuke’s poem enters the anthology through the Shinkokinshū love section. Its landscape introduction leads into the paradox of longing for someone barely seen or not yet met.
Imagery and wordplay
Izumi echoes itsu mi, “when did I see”. The river’s emergence prepares the sudden emergence of love.
Shinkokinshū · 新古今集恋一996
Japanese text and historical kana follow the linked Wikisource transcription. Classical poems can have variant spellings and wording in different anthologies. The source anthology reference identifies the version represented in this collection, not necessarily its earliest surviving text. English prose translations and reading notes are original interpretations; some wordplay permits more than one reading.