On the pond's mirror,
unclouded, I see them clear—
the two forms that are
to go on dwelling here through
ten thousand ages together

Meaning

On the unclouded mirror of the pond I see them clearly: two forms that are to dwell here together through ten thousand ages.

Commentary

Part One: Hatsune

　This is Murasaki's reply to his felicitation. In everything they spoke together, pleasantly, of a bond meant to last. That day the first of the year fell on the Day of the Rat, a day altogether fit for wishing a thousand springs. In the days that followed, Genji went the round of the ladies of the Rokujo estate with his New Year calls—the Akashi girl, the lady of the falling flowers, Tamakazura, and the lady of Akashi.

　"Unclouded" belongs to the imagery of the mirror. She takes his "mirror of the pond" and his "forms" and hands them straight back in the same words. "Sumu" plays on water running clear and on dwelling together. "Ten thousand ages" suits a Day of the Rat on which a thousand springs are wished. "I see them clearly" is: they show plain in the water—an answer that vouches for the picture he has drawn. As a congratulatory exchange it is exactly right, and it shows this pair at the most settled point of their life together.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

On the pond's mirror, unclouded, I see them clear— the two forms that are to go on dwelling here through ten thousand ages together

On the pond's mirror,
unclouded, I see them clear—
the two forms that are
to go on dwelling here through
ten thousand ages together