Hedatetaru hito no kokoro no kuma ni yori tsuki o sayaka ni minu ga kanashisa

隔てたる人の心のくまにより
月をさやかに見ぬが悲しさ

Roma-ji: Hedatetaru hito no kokoro no kuma ni yori tsuki o sayaka ni minu ga kanashisa
English Translation: Because of the shade
in the heart of one who keeps
herself apart from me,
that I cannot clearly see
the moon, oh, what sorrow this!
Meaning: Because of the shadow in the heart of the one who keeps herself apart from me, I cannot see the moon clearly, and that is my sorrow.
Commentary: Love Poems 642

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "The moon"
Because of the shadow in the cold heart of the beloved who keeps a distance between them, the poet's tears overflow and he cannot see the moon clearly, and that is his sorrow. Kuma, a word for a shadow on the moon, links the shadow in her heart with his inability to see the moon.

First line, “hedatetaru”: keeping a distance between us.
Second line, “hito no kokoro no”: of her heart.
Third line, “kuma ni yori”: kuma is a shadow or hidden place, associated with the moon: because of the shadow in her heart.
Fourth line, “tsuki o sayaka ni”: sayaka is clear and distinct, answering the topic.
Fifth line, “minu ga kanashisa”: the sorrow of not seeing it, ending on a noun.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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