Farewell Poem “I say goodbye to you today” Kino Toshisada

KYO WAKARE
ASUWA OMITO
OMOEDOMO
YOYA FUKENURAMU
SODENO TSUYUKEKI

Kino Toshisada

This poem is included in Kokin Wakashu, Volume 8 Farewell.

First, let’s check the meaning of this poem.

Kino Toshisada composed a farewell poem at the farewell banquet for Fujiwara Kiyofu when he was appointed as Afuminosuke at the house of Imperial Prince Sadatoki.

I say goodbye to you today
Tomorrow you are leaving for Omi.
Omi is also known as ”Meet You Again”
It must have been nightfall
The sleeves of my garment
Getting wet from the night dew

Imperial Prince Sadatoki was the seventh prince of Emperor Seiwa.

It is unknown why Fujiwara Kiyofu’s farewell banquet was held at the residence of Imperial Prince Sadatoki.

“Omi” is a combination of “we will meet again” and “the place name of Omi”.

“Tsuyukeki” refers to the state of being wet with dew.

The sleeves of his garment was wet from the tears of goodbye, but I guess he insisted that it was from the night dew.

The poet, Kino Toshisada, insists that since Omi is nearby, we will be able to meet again, and I’m not so sad.

I can picture Toshisada’s face smiling as hard as he could while crying.