Hyakunin Isshu Oracle

No.38 右近「忘らるる 身をば思はず 誓ひてし 人の命の 惜しくもあるかな」

忘らるる 身をば思はず 誓ひてし 人の命の 惜しくもあるかな

右近

forget me, that is fine — but you swore, and gods keep count

forget me, that is fine — but you swore, and gods keep count

キーワードKeywords

Broken VowDivine PunishmentBeing ForgottenConcern for HimIrony
Love

右近Lady Ukon — No. 38 女房・姫Court Lady

A lady-in-waiting, said to be the daughter of a palace guards officer, known for turning resentment inside out.

わすらるる みをばおもはず ちかひてし ひとのいのちの をしくもあるかな

Wasuraruru Mi o ba omowazu Chikaiteshi Hito no inochi no Oshiku mo aru kana

現代語訳Modern Japanese

コンセプトConcept

情景The Scene

She has been forgotten, and she says she does not mind. What worries her is him: he swore an oath before the gods, and oaths like that are said to shorten a life. Read it twice. It is not kindness.

日本の美意識Japanese Aesthetic

Shibumi (Restraint That Cuts)

The most aggressive line in the poem is disguised as concern. Understatement carried far enough becomes a weapon; say the generous thing in a way that only works as an accusation.