Practise the thinking. Keep the judgement.
契りおきし
Fujiwara no Mototoshi · 藤原基俊
契りおきし
させもが露を
命にて
あはれ今年の
秋も去ぬめり
Historical kana
ちぎりおきし
させもがつゆを
いのちにて
あはれことしの
あきもいぬめり
Original English translation
Living on the dew of your promise, like the wormwood at Sasemo, alas, another autumn has passed.
History and context
The Senzaishū headnote connects this poem with an unfulfilled request concerning Mototoshi’s son. Its dependence and disappointment should not be reduced to a romantic situation.
Imagery and wordplay
Dew gives fragile sustenance. The passing autumn measures how long an assurance has failed to become action.
Senzaishū · 千載集雑上1023
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.