Inishie no katami ni naru to kiku kara ni itodo tsuyukeki sumizome no sode

いにしへの形見になると聞くからに
いとど露けき墨染の袖

Roma-ji: Inishie no katami ni naru to kiku kara ni itodo tsuyukeki sumizome no sode
English Translation: Hearing that I am
to be a keepsake of him
who belongs to the past,
all the wetter with dew grow
these sleeves of mine dyed black.
Meaning: As soon as I hear that I am to be a keepsake of the departed, my ink-black sleeves grow all the wetter with dew.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 812

Headnote: "Reply"
This is Saigyō's reply. As soon as I hear I am to be a keepsake of the departed, my ink-black sleeves grow wetter with tears, he says. Taking up 'keepsake' from the preceding poem, he tells how his feeling for the departed wells up anew.

First line, “inishie no”: of the past, the departed.
Second line, “katami ni naru to”: taking up 'katami ni wa' in the third line of the preceding poem.
Third line, “kiku kara ni”: kara ni is as soon as.
Fourth line, “itodo tsuyukeki”: itodo is all the more; tsuyukeshi is to be wet with tears.
Fifth line, “sumizome no sode”: ending on a noun, the sleeves of a monk's robe.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
Prev Poem: Taguinaki mukashi no hito no katami ni wa kimi o nomi koso tanomimashikere
Next Poem: Naki ato mo kyō made wa nao nokorikeru o asu ya wakare o soete shinoban