SKKS XX: 1975

To call out to the Monk Saigyō, who had said he had a reason to come, but had not, on a night when the moon was shining brightly and hearing him pass before her window, she composed this and sent it out to him.

西へゆくしるべとおもふ月かげのそら賴めこそかひなかりけり

nishi e yuku
shirube to omou
tsuki kage no
soradanome koso
kai nakarikeri
For travelling to the West,
A guide, I thought,
The moonlight would be–
An empty promise is
No good at all…

Lady Horikawa from the Taikenmon’in

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