On this island shore
where not even a trace stays
of the world that was,
how rare a thing it is that
a wave should come in to it

Meaning

On this island shore where not a trace of the old world remains, how rare a thing that a wave should come in at all.

Commentary

Part One: Sakaki

　Fujitsubo answered his poem with this one. Her seat was not deep within, most of the rooms having been given over to the Buddha, so her voice carried faintly out. Genji, restraining himself, still let the tears fall, and with nuns who had put the world behind them looking on, he said little and withdrew. The older women wept and praised the man he had grown into.

　"The world that was" is the years while the late Emperor lived. "Not even a trace" says nothing of it remains. "Urashima" takes up his "Matsu ga Urashima," carrying the exchange forward. "A wave that comes in" is Genji himself, and surf reaching a ruined shore stands for a visit after long absence. She thanks him and still keeps her distance.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

On this island shore where not even a trace stays of the world that was, how rare a thing it is that a wave should come in to it

On this island shore
where not even a trace stays
of the world that was,
how rare a thing it is that
a wave should come in to it