Tsuyukesa wa ukimi no sode no kuse naru o tsuki miru toga ni ōsetsuru kana

露けさは憂き身の袖の癖なるを
月見る咎に負ほせつるかな

Roma-ji: Tsuyukesa wa ukimi no sode no kuse naru o tsuki miru toga ni ōsetsuru kana
English Translation: The dampness of tears
is the habit of the sleeves
of my wretched self—
yet I've laid the blame for it
on the gazing at the moon.
Meaning: The wetness of my sleeves is simply the habit of my wretched self, and yet I have blamed it on gazing at the moon.
Commentary: Miscellaneous Poems 1411

Headnote: none
The wetness of his sleeves is simply their habit, the poet says, yet he has blamed it on gazing at the moon.
Following the preceding poem's reproach of the moon, he reflects that his tears are not the moon's fault but the habit of a sorrowful self. It is an introspective poem, looking back on his own blaming of the moon.

First line, “tsuyukesa wa”: the dampness of tears.
Second line, “ukimi no sode no”: of the sleeves of my wretched self.
Third line, “kuse naru o”: o is concessive, "though it is their habit."
Fourth line, “tsuki miru toga ni”: on the fault of seeing the moon.
Fifth line, “ōsetsuru kana”: ōsu is to lay blame; kana is exclamatory.
Author: Saigyō
Source: Sankashu
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