Ai mi-domo,

Omoi-sugu-béki

Koi naranaku ni.

[Though for a myriad ages we should remain hand-in-hand and face to face, our exceeding love could never come to an end. (Why then should Heaven deem it necessary to part us?)]

Waga tamé to,

Tanabata-tsumé no,

Sono yado ni,

Oreru shirotai

Nuït ken kamo?

[The white cloth which Tanabata has woven for my sake, in that dwelling of hers, is now, I think, being made into a robe for me.]