On these sleeves that lie
between us through the nights when
we do not meet, are
you laying still more, and do
you mean me to look again
- Meaning
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On the sleeves that already lie between us through nights we do not meet, you lay yet another—do you mean me to look, and look again?
- Commentary
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Part One: Suetsumuhana
As his answer to the clothing she had sent, Genji scrawled this poem on plain white paper. Taking up her poem on the Chinese robe, he makes the gift of layered garments itself the material of his verse. The reply was delivered to her house, where the women gathered round and admired it. The contrast between his careless hand and their reception is where the comedy of the scene lies.
"Koromode" is a sleeve, carrying forward her "Chinese robe" and "cuff." "Hedatsuru" is what keeps two people apart, pointing to the run of nights without a meeting. "Look, and look again" is emphasis by repetition, rereading the act of layering robes as a demand that he look harder. The etiquette of the exchange is kept while the sense leans toward irony, and how Genji is handling this connection comes through plainly.
- Author
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Murasaki Shikibu
- Source
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Genji Monogatari
- Other
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