Hyakunin Isshu No.56 of Yoga Promenade
The poet is Izumi Shikibu. “Izumi” is named after her first husband Tachibana-no Michisada who was the governor of Izumi. Shikibu is named after her father’s position in the imperial court. Her real name is not recorded.
It is said that this poem was sent to somebody as a private message. It roughly means “Since I feel dying, I wish I can meet you once again for a memory of this world.” But there is some room for interpretation of its detail. What was the relationship between her and the person she wanted to meet? The person might have been already dead. She had several lovers who died young. Did she believe the life after death? So, I am not sure about the emotion behind the poem. Maybe experience to feel death closely is required to feel sympathy to it.
Hyakunin Isshu No.56 of Yoga Promenade
The poet is Izumi Shikibu. “Izumi” is named after her first husband Tachibana-no Michisada who was the governor of Izumi. Shikibu is named after her father’s position in the imperial court. Her real name is not recorded.
It is said that this poem was sent to somebody as a private message. It roughly means “Since I feel dying, I wish I can meet you once again for a memory of this world.” But there is some room for interpretation of its detail. What was the relationship between her and the person she wanted to meet? The person might have been already dead. She had several lovers who died young. Did she believe the life after death? So, I am not sure about the emotion behind the poem. Maybe experience to feel death closely is required to feel sympathy to it.