Uchitokete madoromaba ya wa karakoromo yona yona kaesu kai mo aru beki

うちとけてまどろまばやは唐衣
夜な夜な返すかひもあるべき

Roma-ji: Uchitokete madoromaba ya wa karakoromo yona yona kaesu kai mo aru beki
English Translation: If I could but rest
and fall asleep at my ease,
my fine Chinese robe—
turning it inside out each night
might be worth the effort then.
Meaning: If only I could relax and doze off, then turning my fine robe inside out each night, to dream of you, might be worth something.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1295

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "One hundred and ten love poems"
If only he could fall asleep at ease, turning his robe inside out each night would be worth it, the poet says.
It draws on the belief that sleeping with one's robe turned inside out lets one see the beloved in dreams, lamenting that, unable to sleep for love, even that is of no use. A love so painful he cannot sleep comes through.

First line, “uchitokete”: at ease, unguarded.
Second line, “madoromaba ya wa”: ya wa is rhetorical, "if I could doze," implying he cannot.
Third line, “karakoromo”: a fine robe, associated with "turning."
Fourth line, “yona yona kaesu”: turning it night after night, drawing on the dream belief.
Fifth line, “kai mo aru beki”: there would be some use in it.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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