Since I looked upon
the young leaves of that new grass,
the sleeve I lie on
here in my traveler's bed
has not once been dry of dew

Meaning

Ever since I saw those young leaves of new grass, the sleeve of my traveler's bed has never once been dry of dew.

Commentary

Part One: Wakamurasaki

　From the bishop, Genji learned that the girl was the daughter of Prince Hyobu and thus a niece of Fujitsubo. Unable to give up his feeling for Fujitsubo, he wished to take into his own keeping the child who carried her likeness, and had this poem conveyed to the nun. She would not take the proposal seriously, saying the girl was far too young. Genji pressed the matter again and again, and a long negotiation over the child began.

　"The young leaves of new grass" takes up the attendant's word and now means the girl herself. "Traveler's bed" is his temporary lodging in the hills, the dew stands for tears, and the sleeve that will not dry is an old poetic way of measuring the depth of feeling. Folding the very words spoken at the scene he spied on into his own suit shows Genji's quickness.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

Since I looked upon the young leaves of that new grass, the sleeve I lie on here in my traveler's bed has not once been dry of dew

Since I looked upon
the young leaves of that new grass,
the sleeve I lie on
here in my traveler's bed
has not once been dry of dew