The First Warbler


When the busy day of the New Year ceremonies finished, Genji went calling on Suetsumuhana, the safflower princess. Her hair had been her only charm when she was young, but now the flow was a white trickle. Her nose was red on her white face as before. He arranged the curtain not to see her profile. As she looked cold, he sent to the Nijo warehouses for figured silks. Yet the plantings were fine. He spoke very softly that it seemed a pity that there was no one to appreciate the rose plum, just coming into bloom.