When Narihira’s mother, the Princess, was living at Nagaoka, he found it difficult to get leave from his court duties and so was not able to visit her often. Around the Twelfth Month, a letter came from his mother, apparently on an extremely pressing matter; when he opened the letter and looked at it, there was no message, only this poem.
老いぬればさらぬ別もありといへばいよいよ見まくほしき君かな
| oinureba saranu wakare mo ari to iFeba iyoiyo mimaku Fosiki kimi kana |
As I have grown old, Our final parting Will come soon, I feel, so At the last, I wish to see You, my lord. |