When the Nishi-shijō Ise Virgin[1] was still a princess, while there were some tender feelings between them, it was decided that she should become Ise Virgin,[2] so at dawn on the following day, he had this sent to her, attached to a branch of sakaki.
伊勢のうみの千ひろのはまにひろふともいまはなにてふかひかあるべき
| ise no umi no tiFiro no Fama ni FiroFu to mo ima Fa nani teFu kaFi ka arubeki | By the sea at Ise Across a thousand yards of beach Would I gather them, but Now what use Might be these seashells? |
Lord Atsutada
[1] Imperial Princess Gashi 雅子 (910-954), the tenth daughter of Emperor Daigo.
[2] Gashi was announced as Ise Virgin on the 25th day of the Twelfth Month, Shōhei 承平 1 [4.2.932], dating this poem to 5th February 932.