The year after her mother died, one evening when she was thinking idly following the final service, she was firmly wiping the dust from her zither, not playing it, yet from time to time a note rang out; her aunt, living in the same house, heard the zither’s notes , and sent a note over saying how sad it made her feel; she composed this in reply.
亡人は音づれもせで琴の緖をたちし月日ぞ歸りきにける
| nakibito Fa otodure mo sede koto no wo wo tatisi tuki Fi zo kaFerikinikeru |
She, who’s died, Has sent no word Yet a zither’s notes- Broken-days gone by Brings back. |