Longing, longing still,
the night we meet is tonight—
O Heaven’s River,
let the mist rise and linger,
and never let the dawn break.

Meaning

After longing and longing, the night we meet is tonight; O Heavenly River, let the mist rise thick and never let the dawn come.

Commentary

Book Four Autumn Poems (Part One)

Taking the voice of Orihime, who has longed for a full year, the poem expresses the wish that this long-awaited night of meeting Hikoboshi might never end.
The strong tone of “the night we meet is tonight” conveys the depth of her long-held longing.
The image of mist rising suggests that even if dawn comes, it will not be felt as morning.

Author

Unknown Poet

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

By Heaven’s River, you who keep the ferry there— if he crosses once, then hide away the oar, I pray, and do not let him return.
Across Heaven’s River with crimson leaves for a bridge— is it for this that the Weaver Maid waits for autumn above all seasons to meet?
Heaven’s River— not knowing the shallows, I traced the white-breaking waves; before I could cross it all, the dawn had already come.
That pledged heart— how cruel it seems, that of hers; for Tanabata, to meet but once a year— can such a meeting be called meeting?

Longing, longing still, the night we meet is tonight— O Heaven’s River, let the mist rise and linger, and never let the dawn break.

Longing, longing still,
the night we meet is tonight—
O Heaven’s River,
let the mist rise and linger,
and never let the dawn break.