Practise the thinking. Keep the judgement.
来ぬ人を
Fujiwara no Teika · 権中納言定家
来ぬ人を
松帆の浦の
夕なぎに
焼くや藻塩の
身もこがれつつ
Historical kana
こぬひとを
まつほのうらの
ゆふなぎに
やくやもしほの
みもこがれつつ
Original English translation
Waiting for someone who does not come, in the evening calm of Matsuho’s shore, my body burns like seaweed burned for salt.
History and context
Teika is the poet traditionally credited with selecting the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu. His own selected poem uses coastal salt-making to portray unfulfilled waiting, rather than explaining his work as an editor.
Imagery and wordplay
Matsu suggests waiting as well as the place-name Matsuho. Kogare joins scorching heat to longing.
Shinchokusenshū · 新勅撰集恋三849
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.