I heard that a certain official was visiting the capital on a journey from Kamakura to Kyushu. He offered to buy my writing set, and I realized with a pang of sadness that the memento from my mother had been taken to the east, and the one from my father was now to be carried across the western sea.

Flowing ink and tears streaming
Into a sea of grief
To meet at last—such is my faith—
On a distant shoal.