On the purple, then,
of the wisteria will I
lay my grievance—though
it galls me that it should climb
and bloom out beyond the pine

Meaning

On the purple wisteria, then, will I lay my grievance—though it galls me that it should climb and flower out beyond the pine.

Commentary

Part One: Fujiura

　The gathering went on, and Yugiri arrived. The Minister put on his cap to receive him formally as a guest, and turned to the pleasure of the flowers, remarking, with a meaning smile, how this wisteria alone bloomed on into summer, and how its purple might be taken for a bond of kinship. The moon came out, the wine went round, and feigning drunkenness he pressed the cup on Yugiri, invoking the rule of filial courtesy and hinting at his long grievance. Then, judging the moment, he hummed the old poem of "the underleaf of the wisteria," and so gave his consent. Taking his meaning, Kashiwagi broke off a deep-colored, long-clustered spray and set it to the guest's cup; and as Yugiri took it and sat at a loss, the Minister made this poem.

　"Purple" is the color of the wisteria and so the daughter. "Lay my grievance" is to voice a reproach. "Matsu" plays pine against waiting, and lays over it the real sight of wisteria climbing a pine. "Galls me" carries the sense of "ure," the flower's tip, as well. Complaining that it was Yugiri who kept him waiting, he says he will aim the reproach at the wisteria—that is, the daughter—so that the blame on the son-in-law is softened by being turned upon a flower. With this poem, taking up the old "underleaf of the wisteria," his consent is made sure. Folding grievance and blessing into one on the pivot of pine and wisteria, it is the work of a practiced hand.

Author

Murasaki Shikibu

Source

Genji Monogatari

Other

On the purple, then, of the wisteria will I lay my grievance—though it galls me that it should climb and bloom out beyond the pine

On the purple, then,
of the wisteria will I
lay my grievance—though
it galls me that it should climb
and bloom out beyond the pine