Though on this journey
we are parting and I go,
the smoke that rises
from the burning of seaweed
will drift toward the same place

Meaning

Though this journey parts us, the smoke of the burning seaweed will drift the same way—and so will we.

Commentary

Part One: Akashi

　Two days before his return to the capital, Genji came to her earlier in the evening than usual. Seeing clearly for the first time how fine and noble her face was, he found he could hardly leave her, and promised to send for her in the city. The waves sounded on the autumn wind and the salt-smoke drifted thinly as he spoke this poem. She answered.

　"Kono tabi" plays this occasion against a journey. "Tachiwakaru" is to part and set out, with "tachi" also belonging to the smoke. "Moshio yaku" is burning seaweed for salt, the image running through both this chapter and Suma. "Will drift the same way" says that parted, their hearts still incline together. The smoke in front of them is taken straight into the figure, so that the scene of parting becomes the vow itself.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

Though on this journey we are parting and I go, the smoke that rises from the burning of seaweed will drift toward the same place

Though on this journey
we are parting and I go,
the smoke that rises
from the burning of seaweed
will drift toward the same place