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- Genji Monogatari
This is now the end— the parting road is so sad; the way I would go, if I could choose, is the road of life, of living onward
The road of parting I must take, knowing this is the end, is so full of sorrow—and the road I truly wish to take is the road of staying alive.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
On Miyagi moor the wind that binds dew in drops— hearing its sound now, my thoughts go out to the small bush clover at its root there
Even in the sound of the wind that gathers the dew on Miyagi moor, my thoughts travel out to that small bush clover and how it fares.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
Though the bell cricket cries out to the end of voice, the long night wears on unspent, and my falling tears go on falling without end
Though the bell cricket spends its whole voice crying, the long night does not break, and my tears keep falling without ever running out.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
More and more the sounds of insects thicken and crowd this reed-grown wild yard, and you from above the clouds add still more dew to the dew
In this overgrown house, already thick with the crying of insects, you who come from above the clouds leave behind still more dew of tears.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
Since the sheltering tree that kept the rough wind off withered away, now my heart has no quiet left for the small bush clover there
Ever since the shelter that kept the rough wind away withered and was gone, my heart has had no rest for the small bush clover left beneath it.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
If only there were a wizard who could go seek— then even by word passed on from another's mouth I would know where her soul dwells
If only some sorcerer would go searching for her, so that even at second hand I might learn where her soul has come to rest.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
Even above clouds the autumn moon is clouded over now with tears— how then can it shine down clear on that house of withered reeds
If even here above the clouds the autumn moon is blurred with tears, how could it be shining clear over that reed-grown house?
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
In this first binding of a young boy's gathered hair, did you bind as well a heart that pledges to keep the long years of a lifetime
Into this first binding of a young boy's hair, did you bind also a heart that promises a bond lasting all our years?
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
The heart I bound in runs deep as well in this cord— and if the deep hue of its dark purple never fades, then all shall be as pledged
The heart I bound into this cord runs deep, and so long as its dark purple never fades, the promise will not change.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
Bending back my hands to count the times we have met, is this one alone the bitter joint you have known— this single knuckle of yours
If I count on my fingers all that has passed between us, surely this is not the only bitter joint you have known.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
Bitter joints I've kept counting in my heart alone— and is this the time, this one, when I must part from your hand and let go of it
I have counted these bitter turns in my own heart alone, and now perhaps this is the moment I must let go of your hand.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
Though this house has both a koto and moon past praise, with those strings of hers could she draw and hold in place the man who would not stay here
For all that the koto and the moon here are beyond praise, could those strings really have held back the man who would not stay?
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
That flute whose sound blows joined with the withering wind— I have not a word with which to draw it back here and hold the player near me
That flute sounding along with the cold wind—I have no words left that could draw it back and keep it here.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
Though the woven fence of this poor hill dwelling breaks, still from time to time let your pity fall on us as dew falls upon the pink
Even if the fence of this poor hill house falls to ruin, let your kindness come to us now and then, the way dew settles on the pink.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
Among mingled blooms I cannot tell which color stands above the rest, and yet there is nothing here that comes near the summer pink
Among all these flowers blooming together I cannot say which color is finest, and still nothing comes near the summer pink.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu
On the summer pink, where the sleeve that brushes dust is wet with its dew, autumn has come now as well, adding the storm wind to it
On this summer pink, where even the sleeve that brushes off the dust is wet with dew, autumn has come and brought the storm wind with it.
Genji Monogatari - Murasaki Shikibu