Kamusabu to ina ni wa arazu akikusa no musubishi himo o toku wa kanashi mo

神さぶといなにはあらず秋草の
結びし紐を解くは悲しも

Roma-ji: Kamusabu to ina ni wa arazu akikusa no musubishi himo o toku wa kanashi mo
English Translation: Not because I've aged
is it that I would refuse,
but, like autumn grass,
the cords I tied so tightly,
to untie them makes me sad
Meaning: It is not that I refuse you because I have grown old; it is only that untying the cord I tied like autumn grasses fills me with sorrow.
Commentary: Book Eight Autumn Love Poems 1612

Headnote: "A poem by Lady Ishikawa no Kake"
The poet says that she does not refuse him because she has grown old, but untying the cords of her robe, tied as tightly as autumn grasses, fills her with sorrow. In answer to a suitor, she says she does not reject him, yet expresses hesitation and sadness at giving herself.
The author, Lady Ishikawa no Kake, is a woman about whom little is known.

The first line, "kamusabu," means to grow old with the years, so it means "because I have aged."
The second line means "it is not that I refuse," and the poem pauses here.
The third line means "like autumn grasses," leading into "that I tied" in the fourth line.
The fourth line means "the cords that I tied." The cords of a robe were kept tied until one met one's lover.
The final line means "to untie them is sad," closing with the exclamatory "mo."
Author: Lady Ishikawa no Kake
Source: Manyoshu
Prev Poem: Ashihiki no yamashita toyome naku shika no koto tomoshi kamo waga kokorozuma
Next Poem: Aki no no o asa yuku shika no ato mo naku omoishi kimi ni aeru koyoi ka