SZS XVI: 964

Around the Second Month, on a night when the moon was particularly bright, a large number of people were gathered in the Nijō Palace, staying up all night and chatting about various things; Lady Suō lay down, saying quietly that she wished she had a pillow; hearing her, Major Councillor Tada’ie thrust his arm under the curtains, saying, “‘Use this for your pillow!’ So, she composed this:

春の夜の夢ばかりなる手枕にかひなく立たむ名こそをしけれ

Faru no yo no
yume bakari naru
tamakura ni
kaFinaku tatamu
na koso wosikere
A spring night’s
Dream, alone, is
Your pillowing arm;
Pointlessly to get
A name, would be regrettable, indeed!

Suō Naishi

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