Murasaki Shikibu's poem for Lady Koshosho, written between 1008 and 1010

Sources:

The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu (Murasaki Shikibu Nikki), written from circa 1008 to 1010

Original version, edited by Hokiichi Hanawa:

https://ja.wikisource.org/wiki/%E7%B4%AB%E5%BC%8F%E9%83%A8%E6%97%A5%E8%A8%98_(%E7%BE%A4%E6%9B%B8%E9%A1%9E%E5%BE%9E)

Modernised edition, edited by Eiichi Shibuya:

https://ja.wikisource.org/wiki/%E7%B4%AB%E5%BC%8F%E9%83%A8%E6%97%A5%E8%A8%98_(%E6%B8%8B%E8%B0%B7%E6%A0%84%E4%B8%80%E6%A0%A1%E8%A8%82)

English translation in Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan (1920), compiled and translated by Annie Shepley Omori and Kochi Doi

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Diaries_of_Court_Ladies_of_Old_Japan/2

Murasaki's poem:

ことはりの時雨の空は雲まあれと詠むる袖そ乾くまもなき

Romaji transliteration (in reconstructed Early Middle Japanese):

Kotofari no sigure no sora fa kumo ma are to nagamuru sode so kawaku ma mo naki

With modernised spelling:

ことわりの時雨れの空は雲間あれど 　　ながむる袖ぞ乾く間もなき

Romaji transliteration:

Kotowari no shigure no sora wa kumoma are do nagamuru sode zo kawaku ma mo naki

English translation:

There are pauses between the showers of the outer world,

But there is no time when my sleeves, wet with tears, are dry.

--

Lady Koshosho's reply:

雲間なくなかむる空もかさくらしいかに忍ふる時雨なる覽

Romaji transliteration (in reconstructed Early Middle Japanese):

Kumoma nakunaka muru sora mo kaki kurasi ikani sinobu furu sigurenaru ramu

With modernised spelling/language:

雲間なくながむる空もかきくらし 　　いかにしのぶる時雨れなるらむ

Romaji transliteration:

Kumoma nakunaga muru sora mo kakikurashi ikani shinoburu shigurenaru ramu

English translation:

The dark sky dulls my dreamy mind,

The down-dripping rain lingers —

O my tears down falling, longing after thee!

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