Year
Translation
By Suo no Naishi (1037-1109)
On a short spring night
Resting in your arms
Is but a dream—
How regrettable it would be
To ruin my name so pointlessly
| Original Japanese | Pronunciation |
| | |
| 周防内侍 | Suo no Naishi |
| | |
| 春の夜の | Haru no yo no |
| 夢ばかりなる | Yume bakari naru |
| 手枕に | Tamakura ni |
| かひなく立たむ | Kainaku tatan |
| 名こそ惜しけれ | Na koso oshi kere |
Literal Notes
Spring ’s night ’s [= short spring night]
Dream [just/merely/nothing-but/approximately] had/became
Hand pillow [= using arm as a pillow]
[Worthless/pointless/not-keep/without-deserving] [stand-out]
Name/reputation that [regrettable/dear/too-good-for/almost-not-quite] is
Lady Sue no Naishi was tired one night at the royal court and expressed a wish for a pillow. One of the male courtiers offered his arm through the separation screen. She composed this poem as a response, meaning that she wouldn’t ruin her reputation for such a pointless thing.
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