A field overgrown
With forgetful grasses—so
You may think it seems;
Yet this is the grass of love
Hidden, which I trust still more.
- Meaning
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You may think it is a field overgrown with forget-me-not grass, yet it is the grass of hidden love. I will continue to rely upon you from now on as well.
- Commentary
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100. This Is the Grass of Hidden Love
A certain man was passing through the narrow passage between the Kōryōden and the Seiryōden when, from the room of a noble lady, daylilies were given to him through one of her attendants, with the words, “Is this what they call the grass of hidden love? (Though you have forgotten, is it not a falsehood to say you still think of me?)”
The poem was composed by the man after receiving the daylilies.
The forget-grass and the grass of hidden love resemble one another somewhat in shape. By giving him forget-grass, the lady reproached the man by questioning his feelings.
In the poem he says: you may think that I have forgotten you, but in truth I conceal my love for you from the eyes of others. Since you have spoken to me in such a way, I will continue to rely upon you from now on.
- Source
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Ise Monogatari
- Other
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