Classic Poem

" I'm a flower, I won't tell you my name — stop pulling my sleeve! "
" Lasts as long as a dream — your youth, your spring "
they exchange cups, get hazy, warm up
no time to use their arms for pillows
moon daylight-bright, you can't sneak in
that lover, face hidden, getting wet with dew
in deep mist he hangs around the front lattice and the gate
the samisen player pulls his face close and looks at him
unable to part, they toy with the mooring rope
as deep as the river, the way they feel
" If I could be with you I wouldn't mind downing this barrel of sake "
" Let it be known to all — even a minute from now! "
after a not-at-all shallow love-talk, she cut her finger off
though a daughter of joy, her resolve is strong
the memento left in Oiso — the " strength rock "
only a passer-by yet shedding tears
he leaves the inn, his heart's fire smoldering
in a thatched hut, still agitated
with the moon out, the amorist uses tea as a pretext
sending just one line this autumn night
he repeats his long stories to the go-between
making her his wife before he knows it