classic waka stream

よそながらあやしとだにも思へかし
恋せぬ人の袖の色かは
Roma-ji

Yoso nagara ayashi to dani mo omoe kashi koi senu hito no sode no iro ka wa

English Translation
From afar, at least,
think it strange, if nothing more:
could this be the hue
of the sleeves of one who
knows nothing of love?
Meaning
Even from afar, at least think it strange. Could this be the color of the sleeves of someone who is not in love? Surely not.
Commentary
Book Twelve Love Poems II 1121

Headnote: "When the Regent and Grand Chancellor had people compose hundred-poem sequences."
This is the second poem of the sequence on sleeves and tears. The speaker asks the beloved at least to think it strange, even from afar: could these be the sleeves of one not in love? According to the headnote, it was composed when the Regent and Grand Chancellor, Fujiwara no Yoshitsune, had people compose hundred-poem sequences.
The author is Takamatsu-in no Uemon no Suke, a lady-in-waiting to Takamatsu-in, Princess Shushi, a daughter of Emperor Toba who became empress of Emperor Nijō.

The first line, "yoso nagara," means "while remaining apart," speaking of a beloved who is far away.
The second line, "ayashi to dani mo," means "at least that it is strange," with "dani" marking the least of wishes.
The third line, "omoe kashi," means "please think so," the imperative with the emphatic "kashi." The poem breaks after the third line.
The fourth line, "koi senu hito no," means "of one not in love."
The last line, "sode no iro ka wa," means "could this be the color of the sleeves? surely not," with "ka wa" marking a rhetorical question. Showing sleeves changed in color by tears, the speaker pleads to have the sign of love noticed. Taking up the sleeve that holds back tears in the preceding poem, here the color of sleeves dyed by tears is sung.
Author
Takamatsu-in no Uemon no Suke
Source
Shin Kokin Wakashu
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