Tsurubami no tokiaraiginu no ayashiku mo koto ni kihoshiki kono yūbe kamo

橡の解き洗ひ衣のあやしくも
ことに着欲しきこの夕かも

Roma-ji: Tsurubami no tokiaraiginu no ayashiku mo koto ni kihoshiki kono yūbe kamo
English Translation: The acorn-dyed robe,
unstitched and washed once again—
strange as it may be,
how especially I long to wear it
on this evening now
Meaning: The acorn-dyed robe, unstitched and washed anew—strange to say, how I long to wear it most of all this evening.
Commentary: Book Seven Allegorical Poems 1314

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "On Robes"
The poet finds that, strangely, he especially longs this evening to wear the old acorn-dyed robe that has been unstitched and washed. The well-worn robe is taken to stand for a wife of many years, expressing a sudden tenderness for her one evening.
It is the fourth poem of the series on robes. The first line, "acorn-dyed," and "longing to wear" are shared with poem 1311 in this book; where that poem is drawn to a new partner, this one thinks of a familiar one, and the two contrast. The poet is unknown.

The first line, "The acorn-dyed robe," is the same as the first line of poem 1311 in this book.
The second line, "unstitched and washed once again," refers to a robe taken apart at the seams and washed, and has an extra syllable.
The third line, "strange as it may be," expresses his surprise.
The fourth line, "how especially I long to wear it," corresponds to the last line of poem 1311.
In the final line, "kamo" expresses exclamation: "this very evening."
Source: Manyoshu
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