Since there comes a time
of meeting again, as they
met going around
the shrine pillar—do not keep
the grudge of that parting spring

Meaning

Since there are times of meeting again, as the gods met circling the shrine pillar, do not hold on to the grudge of the spring we parted.

Commentary

Part One: Akashi

　The Suzaku Emperor answered Genji's poem with this one. He believed his own failings had sent Genji down to Suma, and the discomfort of it shows in the reply. His bearing, the tale says, was full of grace. Afterward Genji hurried the preparations for the lectures in his father's memory, met the Heir Apparent, and went to see Fujitsubo.

　"Miyabashira" is the pillar of a shrine, and by way of the myth in which Izanagi and Izanami met circling such a pillar it serves as a preface to "meguriau," to meet again. Where Genji used the myth of the leech-child, the Emperor answers from within the same body of myth, choosing the scene at the pillar. "The spring we parted" is the departure for Suma. "Do not keep the grudge" is a prohibition, and so a request for reconciliation.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

Since there comes a time of meeting again, as they met going around the shrine pillar—do not keep the grudge of that parting spring

Since there comes a time
of meeting again, as they
met going around
the shrine pillar—do not keep
the grudge of that parting spring