Mataretsuru iriai no kane no oto su nari asu mo ya araba kikan to suran

待たれつる入相の鐘の音すなり
明日もやあらば聞かんとすらん

Roma-ji: Mataretsuru iriai no kane no oto su nari asu mo ya araba kikan to suran
English Translation: Long awaited now,
the evening temple bell is
sounding through the hills;
if I am alive tomorrow,
will I hear it once again?
Meaning: The evening bell I have been waiting for is sounding now; if I am still alive tomorrow, will I hear it once again?
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 939

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
The evening bell I have been waiting for is sounding; if I am alive tomorrow, will I hear it again? the poet asks. In the bell marking the day's end he thinks of a life with no promise of tomorrow. Against the dawn bell of the preceding poem, this sings of the evening bell.

First line, “mataretsuru”: awaited without willing it.
Second line, “iriai no kane no”: of the bell struck at sunset; a line of eight syllables, set against the dawn bell before.
Third line, “oto su nari”: nari marks inference from sound; it is sounding; the poem breaks here.
Fourth line, “asu mo ya araba”: ya is answered by ran in the fifth line.
Fifth line, “kikan to suran”: will I hear it?
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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