On the conception of travel

玉ぼこの道はとほくもあらなくに旅としおもへばわびしかりけり

tamaboko no michi wa tōku mo aranaku ni tabi to shi omoeba wabishikarikeri

The jewelled-spear straight Road distant Is not, but even so, When I think of travelling How desolate I am! [i]

564

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[i] See: Sent to his Junior Consort when she was away from the palace. たまぼこのみちははるかにあらねどもうたてくもゐにまどふころかな tamaboko no/ michi wa haruka ni / aranedomo / utate kumoi ni / madou koro kana ‘Down a jewelled-spear straight / Road’s distance / You are not, yet / Somehow, among the clouds, extremely / Lost am I, these days!’ Former Emperor Suzaku (Shinkokinshū XIV: 1248)