Tsuyu no tama wa kiyureba mata mo oku mono o tanomi mo naki wa waga mi narikeri

露の玉は消ゆればまたも置くものを
頼みもなきは我が身なりけり

Roma-ji: Tsuyu no tama wa kiyureba mata mo oku mono o tanomi mo naki wa waga mi narikeri
English Translation: The beads of the dew,
though they vanish, settle once
again upon the grass;
it is this body of mine
that has nothing to rely on.
Meaning: The beads of dew, even when they vanish, settle again; it is this body of mine that has nothing at all to rely on.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 765

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
Beads of dew settle again even after they vanish, but this body, once gone, is gone for good, with nothing to rely on. Even compared with dew, the very emblem of transience, human life is more fleeting still. Taking up 'the dew of life' from the preceding poem, the poet sets dew against human life.

First line, “tsuyu no tama wa”: the beads of dew; a line of six syllables.
Second line, “kiyureba mata mo”: though they vanish, again.
Third line, “oku mono o”: mono o is concessive, though they settle; taking up oku in 'okuri okuran' of the preceding poem.
Fourth line, “tanomi mo naki wa”: what has nothing to rely on.
Fifth line, “waga mi narikeri”: narikeri marks realization; it is I.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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