Ikade ware koyoi no tsuki o mi ni soete shide no yamaji no hito o terasan

いかでわれ今宵の月を身に添へて
死出の山路の人を照らさん

Roma-ji: Ikade ware koyoi no tsuki o mi ni soete shide no yamaji no hito o terasan
English Translation: Somehow I would take
the moon that shines here tonight
along at my side,
and on the mountain path of death
shine its light for those who go.
Meaning: Somehow I long to take tonight's moon along with me and light the way for those who travel the mountain path of death.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 774

Headnote: "On the fifteenth night of the seventh month, when the moon was bright, I went to Funaoka"
On the night of the fifteenth of the seventh month, the moon being bright, the poet went to Funaoka and composed this. The fifteenth of the seventh month is the day of the Bon festival for the dead, and Funaoka north of the capital was known as a burial ground. He longs to take tonight's bright moon with him and light the way for those on the mountain path of death, expressing compassion for the dead.

First line, “ikade ware”: ikade expresses a longing, somehow.
Second line, “koyoi no tsuki o”: tonight's moon, the bright moon of the fifteenth night in the headnote.
Third line, “mi ni soete”: keeping it beside me.
Fourth line, “shide no yamaji no”: of the mountain path of the dead, fitting for the burial ground of Funaoka.
Fifth line, “hito o terasan”: n expresses intention, I would light their way.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
Prev Poem: Tsuki o mite izure no toshi no aki made ka kono yo ni ware ga chisari aruran
Next Poem: Sono ori no yomogi ga moto no makura ni mo kaku koso mushi no ne ni wa mutsureme