Love

しらざりき結ばぬ水に影みても袖に雫のかかる物とは

shirazariki musubanu mizu ni kage mitemo sode ni shizuku no kakaru mono to wa

I did not know: Even though in intangible waters I glimpsed your face, Upon my sleeves, droplets Still would cling…[i]

13

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[i] An allusive variation on: Composed on the conception of love, when hundred poem sequences were presented during the reign of former Emperor Horikawa. おもひあまり人にとはばやみなせ川むすばぬ水に袖はぬるやと omoi’amari / hito ni towaba ya / minasegawa / musubanu mizu ni / sode wa nuru ya to ‘Love consumes me and so / I would ask her: / Do the ever dry Minase River’s / Intangible waters / Yet soak your sleeves?’ Major Counsellor Kinzane (Senzaishū XII: 704)