In this tanka, Kawara no Sadaijin sees a fine, intricate fern cloth printing, which reminds him of how tangled and chaotic his feelings are toward a woman he loves. The pronunciation for fern is the same as for remembering or concealing oneself, which gives it a double meaning. In my translation, I am using "surrounded" to capture how the image of the cloth print has taken over his feelings, stirring recollections of his secret love.
My Translation
By Kawara no Sadaijin
Surrounded by this
Intricate print,
I become
Dyed and tangled,
Trapped in secret love.
Original Japanese
河原左大臣
みちのくの
しのぶもぢずり
誰故に
乱れそめにし
我ならなくに
Japanese Pronunciation
Kawara no Sadaijin
Michinoku no
Shinobu moji-zuri
Tare yue ni
Midare some ni shi
Ware naranaku ni
Literal Word-for-Word and Notes
Michinoku’s
Fern cloth printing(1)
Who therefore
[Disordered/confused/disturbed] [to dye/color/print]
I become
(1) The pronunciation for “fern” can also mean recollection/forbearance/endure/conceal oneself. The fern cloth prints were very intricate, thus suggesting that his love his causing his chaotic thoughts.
Year:
2011
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