Kurenai ni arau tamoto no koki iro wa kogarete mono o omou narikeri

紅にあらふ袂の濃き色は
焦がれて物を思ふなりけり

Roma-ji: Kurenai ni arau tamoto no koki iro wa kogarete mono o omou narikeri
English Translation: The deep crimson hue
of my sleeves, washed in the
crimson of my tears—
it comes from burning with love,
brooding thoughts of one I long for.
Meaning: The deep color of my sleeves, washed in crimson tears, comes from the burning longing with which I brood.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1310

Headnote continued from the preceding poem: "One hundred and ten love poems"
The deep color of his sleeves, washed in crimson tears, comes from his burning, brooding love, the poet says.
To the image of sleeves dyed red by tears of blood he adds kogare, "burning with longing," seeing a heart scorched by love dyeing the sleeves dark. Crimson and scorched color are laid together in a vivid poem.

First line, “kurenai ni”: with crimson tears.
Second line, “arau tamoto no”: of the sleeves washed in them.
Third line, “koki iro wa”: the deep color.
Fourth line, “kogarete mono o”: kogaru is to burn with longing, echoing a scorched color.
Fifth line, “omou narikeri”: keri marks realization, "it is because I brood."
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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