有馬山

猪名の笹原

風吹けば

いでそよ人を

忘れやはする

だいにのさんみ

ありまやま

いなのささわら

かぜふけば

いでそよひとを

わすれやはする

Daini no Sanmi, Lady Kataiko

As from Mount Arima

Over Ina's plain of bamboo grass

Winds will rustle down,

So I may never be forgot

Nor ever let you down.

Toyokuni

Daini no Sanmi (999 - 1083), earlier known as Katako or Kenshi, was the daughter of Murasaki Shikibu (poem 57). Like her mother she was a maid of honour at the imperial court and a gifted poet. She married Takashina no Nariakira, who was Daini (assistant governor-general of Dazaifu). Sanmi means ‘third rank’, a court promotion she received. She is said to have written the Sagoromo Monogatari.

Soyo means ‘rustle, breeze’, so yo is ‘that’s how it is’ and ide so yo means ‘being like’. The first part of the poem can be seen as an independent statement followed by another one, ‘while... then I..’, or alternatively as related items as ‘like... so I...’.