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Ariwara no Narihira 在原業平

9th century · Heian Japan · He wrote the second half on the same dish, with charcoal from a pine torch

I shall cross the Barrier of Meeting, Osaka, once more.

また逢坂の関は越えなむ

Tales of Ise, episode 69

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The Priestess of Ise 伊勢の斎宮

9th century · Ise, Heian Japan · The morning after she had gone by night to the man, who had come as an imperial huntsman, and returned: a poem sent with no other word

Did you come to me, or did I go to you? I cannot tell. Was it a dream or was it real? Was I asleep or awake?

君や来しわれや行きけむ思ほえず夢かうつつか寝てか覚めてか

Tales of Ise, episode 69

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Ariwara no Narihira 在原業平

9th century · Heian Japan · The answering poem the man made, weeping bitterly

I too went astray in the darkness of a heart gone black. Whether it was dream or real, decide tonight.

かきくらす心のやみに惑ひにき夢うつつとは今宵定めよ

Tales of Ise, episode 69

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The Priestess of Ise 伊勢の斎宮

9th century · Ise, Heian Japan · At dawn on the day he left, never having met her again, a sake dish was sent out from her side with only the first half of a poem written on it

Since ours was a bond so shallow that one could wade across and not be wet

かち人の渡れど濡れぬえにしあれば

Tales of Ise, episode 69

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