72. The Lady Kii, of the House of Princess Yūshi: Yūshi Naishinnō Ke Kii
72
THE LADY KII, OF THE HOUSE OF PRINCESS YŪSHI
YŪSHI NAISHINNŌ KE KII
Oto ni kiku
Takashi no hama no
Adanami wa
Kakeji ya sode no
Nure mo koso sure.
Takashi no hama no
Adanami wa
Kakeji ya sode no
Nure mo koso sure.
THE sound of ripples on the shore
Ne’er fails at Takashi;
My sleeves all worn and wet with tears
Should surely prove to thee,
I, too, will constant be.
The Lady Kii lived at the Court of the Emperor Horikawa, who reigned A.D. 1087-1107. Takashi is a seaside place in the Province of Izumi, not far from Ōsaka, and on the shore we see the Lady Kii, perhaps composing this verse to her lover.