A poem by
Japanese poet
Ariwara no Shigeharu. As Shigeharu was travelling to
Kai province to visit a friend, he fell ill very suddenly. Thinking that he might soon die, Shigeharu composed this, requesting a messenger take it to his mother, in
Edo.
Karisome no
Yukikaji to zo
Omoi koshi
Ima wa kagiri no
Kadode narikeri
I came thinking this
Would be
a simple journey
Along the road to
Kai and back but now I
Have crossed
the final threshold.