Ware naku wa kono satobito ya aki fukaki tsuyu o tamoto ni kakete shinoban

我なくはこの里人や秋深き
露を袂にかけて偲ばん

Roma-ji: Ware naku wa kono satobito ya aki fukaki tsuyu o tamoto ni kakete shinoban
English Translation: When I am no more,
will the people of this village,
with the deep autumn dew
gathered on their sleeves in tears,
call me fondly to mind?
Meaning: When I am gone, will the people of this village remember me, with the deep dew of autumn wetting their sleeves?
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 926

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "When, ill with a cold, I was returning to my mountain temple, people came to see me off, saying, 'When you are better, come again soon,' and thinking of each one's kindness / There were replies too, but those I did not hear of I have not written down"
This is the third of the five. If I were gone, would the people of this village remember me, shedding tears like the deep dew of autumn on their sleeves? the poet asks, setting the kindness of those who came to see him against thoughts of his own death.

First line, “ware naku wa”: when I am gone, thinking of death.
Second line, “kono satobito ya”: satobito are those who came to see him; ya is answered by n in the fifth line.
Third line, “aki fukaki”: of deep autumn.
Fourth line, “tsuyu o tamoto ni”: dew on their sleeves, a figure for tears.
Fifth line, “kakete shinoban”: will they remember me? kakete also echoing to keep in one's heart.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
Prev Poem: Ada ni chiru ko no ha ni tsukete omou kana kaze sasou meru tsuyu no inochi o
Next Poem: Samazama ni aware ōkaru wakare kana kokoro o kimi ga yado ni todomete