So cruelly turned away, I composed this poem:

Weary of the world like you,
I wear the same black robes.
What means this hue if you reject me so?
I wrote this on a prayer slip, attached it to a branch from the nandin evergreen growing before the gate, and sent it inside. They didn’t answer my poem, but they did let me stay, and we soon became acquainted. [4.22]

sad girl



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From The Confessions of Lady Nijō, translated by Karen Brazell - About this site