Practise the thinking. Keep the judgement.
難波江の
Kōkamon’in no Bettō · 皇嘉門院別当
難波江の
あしのかりねの
一夜ゆゑ
みをつくしてや
戀ひわたるべき
Historical kana
なにはえの
あしのかりねの
ひとよゆゑ
みをつくしてや
こひわたるべき
Original English translation
For one night’s brief shelter among Naniwa’s cut reeds, must I spend my whole self in a lifetime of longing?
History and context
The poet’s literary name identifies her office in an imperial household. This Senzaishū love poem links a single encounter with the possible disproportion of its aftermath.
Imagery and wordplay
Karine suggests cut reed roots and temporary sleep; hitoyo is one reed joint and one night. Miotsukushi adds total self-expenditure.
Senzaishū · 千載集恋三806
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.