もゆるがままにもえしめよ
Lyric Video
Original Text
朝の雨につばさしめりし鶯を打たむの袖のさだすぎし君
消えむものか歌よむ人の夢とそはそは夢ならむさて消えむものか
いとせめてもゆるがままにもえしめよ斯くぞ覚ゆる暮れて行く春
Translation
This English text accompanies the original tanka poems by Akiko Yosano to reflect their raw emotion and rhythmic essence. Rather than a literal translation, these words are chosen to let you feel the pulse of the Japanese lines as you listen.
Section 1
Original
しら綾に鬢の香しみし夜着の襟そむるに歌のなきにしもあらず
Romaji
Shira-aya ni bin no ka shimishi yogi no eri somuru ni uta no nakinishimo arazu
literal translation
The scent of my hair has permeated the collar of my beloved’s white silk nightgown. It is not as though there are no songs that describe this scene.
Modern Japanese
あの人の白い襟に私の香りがしみる。そんな歌、歌わずにいられるはずがないでしょう。
Modern English Interpretation
My scent is stained on the white collar of his nightgown.
How could I possibly not sing of a night like this?
Original
朝の雨につばさしめりし鶯を打たむの袖のさだすぎし君
Romaji
Asa no ame ni tsubasa shimerishi uguisu o utan no sode no sadasugishi kimi
literal translation
A nightingale with wings dampened by the morning rain; you, whose sleeve has already brushed against it as if to strike.
Modern Japanese
しっとりとまだ濡れている鶯を、貴方の袖がくすぐる。雨の朝はゆうべの余韻の中。
Modern English Interpretation
Like a nightingale drenched in the rain, I lie still as your sleeve teases my skin.
This rainy morning drifts in the sweet afterglow of last night.
Section 2
Original
道を云はず後を思はず名を問はずここに恋ひ恋ふ君と我と見る
Romaji
Michi o towazu ato o omowazu na o towazu koko ni koi kou kimi to ware to o miru
literal translation
Speaking not of morals, thinking not of the future, caring not for reputation—
just you and I, here, deeply in love and gazing at one another.
Modern Japanese(1st)
道理？ 将来？ 世間体？ そんなのどうでもいい。 今、この瞬間に貴方がいればそれでいい。
Modern English Interpretation(1st)
Morals? The future? My reputation?
I don’t give a damn. In this very moment, you and I are everything.
Modern Japanese(2nd)
道理？ 将来？ 世間体？ そんなのどうでもいい。 今、この瞬間の貴方と私がすべて。
Modern English Interpretation(2nd)
Morals? The future? What people say? None of it matters.
As long as I have you right here, right now, that is all I need.
Section 3
Original
春寒のふた日を京の山ごもり梅にふさはぬわが髪の乱れ
Romaji
Haru samu no futahi o kyou no yama gomori ume ni husawanu waga kami no midare
literal translation
For the past two days, while the chill of spring still lingered, I had secluded myself in the mountains of Kyoto.
The noble beauty of plum blossoms doesn’t suit someone like me, with my hair disheveled.
Modern Japanese
まだ寒さが残る春、京の山に籠もった二日間。梅は似合わないわね、髪が乱れたままの私には。
Modern English Interpretation
Two days hidden in the Kyoto mountains, while the spring chill lingers on.
These prim plum blossoms… they hardly suit a woman with hair as disheveled as mine.
Section 4
Original
きけな神恋はすみれの紫にゆふべの春の讃嘆のこゑ
Romaji
Kikena kami koi wa sumire no murasaki ni yuube no haru no santan no koe
literal translation
Listen, O God—
my love is violet deep as dusk,
and the spring evening sings its hymn of praise.
Modern Japanese
神よ、聞くがいい。すみれ色のこの恋を、春の夕暮れさえも讃えている。
Modern English Interpretation
Listen up, God.
My love burns in deep violet—
even the spring dusk falls to its knees in praise of us.
Original
消えむものか歌よむ人の夢とそはそは夢ならむさて消えむものか
Romaji
Kien mono ka uta yomu hito no yume to sowa sowa yume naran sate kien mono ka
literal translation
Will it fade? They say a poet’s dream is only a dream—perhaps so.
Yet even if it is, how could it ever be gone?
Modern Japanese
この恋の歌、夢なら消えてしまうの？ いいえ、例え夢だとしても消させはしない。
Modern English Interpretation
Will it vanish? Let them say a poet’s dream is only a dream.
Even if this is all a dream, I’m the one who won’t let it fade. Never.
Section 5
Original
君さけぶ道のひかりの遠を見ずやおなじ紅なる靄たちのぼる
Romaji
Kimi sakebu michi no hikari no ochi o mizuya onaji ake naru moya tachi noboru
literal translation
Can you not see it, far beyond the path of “morality” you cry out for?
The same crimson mist of passion is rising there as well.
Modern Japanese
貴方からは見えない？ あなたが示す光のむこうにも同じように情熱があるのよ。
Modern English Interpretation
Are you blind?
Far beyond that “moral path” you keep preaching about, the same crimson mist is rising.
The same truth is right there.
Original
いとせめてもゆるがままにもえしめよ斯くぞ覚ゆる暮れて行く春
Romaji
Ito semete moyuru ga mama ni moe shimeyo kakuzo oboyuru kurete yuku haru
literal translation
My heart is aflame with madness—so let it burn as it will. This is what I knew, as spring slipped into dusk.
Modern Japanese
春の終わり……だったら、せめて燃え尽きるまで私を焦がし続けて。この恋に落ちていく。
Modern English Interpretation
Spring is fading… If it all must end, then just let me burn.
Alright then—watch me burn.
Translation ©Tsukiyonokarasu, 2026
Original Tanka by Yosano Akiko (Public Domain)
I’ve approached each poem with care and time—reading, translating, listening, and creating—always as a quiet collaboration with the poet.
These works reflect not just the poem itself, but also the moments of silence, discovery, and emotion that arose between us.
You’re invited into that space—not to copy, but to feel.
