Tsuki no tame misabi sueji to omoishi ni midori ni mo shiku ike no ukikusa

月のため水錆すゑじと思ひしに
緑にも敷く池の浮草

Roma-ji: Tsuki no tame misabi sueji to omoishi ni midori ni mo shiku ike no ukikusa
English Translation: For the moon's sake, I
thought to keep the water clear,
free of any scum,
yet across the pond in green
the floating weed has spread.
Meaning: For the moon's sake I meant to keep the water free of scum, yet the duckweed has spread across the pond in a sheet of green.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1021

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "Topic unknown"
For the moon's sake I meant to keep scum from settling on the pond, yet the floating weed has spread over it in a sheet of green, the poet says, setting his love of the moon against the duckweed covering the summer pond.

First line, “tsuki no tame”: for the moon's sake, to reflect it.
Second line, “misabi sueji to”: misabi is rust-like scum on water; ji is negative intention.
Third line, “omoishi ni”: though I had thought so.
Fourth line, “midori ni mo shiku”: spreading in a sheet of green.
Fifth line, “ike no ukikusa”: ending on a noun, the weed floating on the pond.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
Prev Poem: Hisagi oite suzume to nareru kage nare ya nami utsu kishi ni kaze wataritsutsu
Next Poem: Omou koto miare no shime ni hiku suzu no kanawazu wa yomo naraji to zo omou