Ashihiki no yamabe ni ima wa sumizome no koromo no sode wa hiru toki mo nashi - Kokin Wakashu(English Translation & Meaning)

あしひきの山辺に今はすみぞめの
衣の袖は干る時もなし

Roma-ji: Ashihiki no yamabe ni ima wa sumizome no koromo no sode wa hiru toki mo nashi
English Translation: Now I dwell among
the foothills of the mountains
in robes of ink-black,
and the sleeves of my garment
never have a time to dry.
Meaning: Now I live by the mountains wearing ink-black robes of mourning, and their sleeves never have a moment to dry.
Commentary: Book Sixteen Poems of Lament 844

Headnote: "Composed as a reply when someone sent condolences to a woman staying at a mountain temple in mourning for her parent"
This poem was composed by a woman staying at a mountain temple in mourning for a parent, in reply to someone who sent condolences. She answers that, living in the mountains in mourning robes, her sleeves never have a moment to dry. Where the preceding poem was written by the one offering condolence, this one comes from the one who receives it, and the two form a pair.
The author is unknown. The headnote shows it is the poem of a woman who has lost a parent.

The first line, ashihiki no, is a pillow word for "mountain."
The second line, "by the mountains now," shows that she is secluded at a mountain temple.
The third line, sumizome no, is a pivot word combining "to dwell" by the mountains with "ink-black," the color of mourning. The same word appears in the first line of the preceding poem.
The fourth line, "the sleeves of my robe," names her own mourning sleeves, in contrast to "your sleeves" in the preceding poem.
The last line, "never have a time to dry," speaks of sleeves always wet with tears.
Author: Unknown Poet
Source: Kokin Wakashu
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