Fujigoromo kasanuru iro wa fukakeredo asaki kokoro no shimanu hakanasa

藤衣重ぬる色は深けれど
浅き心の染まぬはかなさ

Roma-ji: Fujigoromo kasanuru iro wa fukakeredo asaki kokoro no shimanu hakanasa
English Translation: Wisteria robes,
the hue of them worn layered
is deep, and yet,
how futile that my shallow
heart will not take on the dye.
Meaning: The color of the mourning robes I wear one upon another is deep, yet how futile that my shallow heart will not take the dye.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 786

Headnote: "Reply"
This is Fujiwara no Kinyoshi's reply. The color of the mourning robes I wear one upon another is deep, but my shallow heart does not take the dye of the Way, how futile, he writes. Taking up 'robes worn one upon another' and 'dye the color of your heart' from the preceding poem, he sets the depth of the robes against the shallowness of his heart in modesty.

First line, “fujigoromo”: mourning robes, taking up 'fuji no koromo' of the preceding poem.
Second line, “kasanuru iro wa”: the color of robes layered, taking up 'kasane kiru.'
Third line, “fukakeredo”: though it is deep.
Fourth line, “asaki kokoro no”: of a shallow heart, set against the depth of the third line.
Fifth line, “shimanu hakanasa”: ending on a noun, the futility of not taking the dye, answering 'someyo.'
Author: Fujiwara no Kinyoshi
Source: Sankashu
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