October 20
The well that brings up your laughter today has often held your tears. What you call joy is your sorrow with its mask removed.
The Prophet (freely rendered)
Okinamaro
The well that brings up your laughter today has often held your tears. What you call joy is your sorrow with its mask removed.
In the evening a dog appeared, distressed, its body swollen all over. It would not take food. It did not respond to the name Okinamaro.
Okinamaro had frightened the cat the Emperor loved. He had been taken away for it. On his return he had been beaten so badly that he was thought to be dead. Could this be the same dog?
The next morning the Empress was washing. As she did so, she spoke of the poor dog. Beside a pillar the strange animal lay crouched. When it heard the lament, it began to tremble and weep, so Sei Shōnagon relates.
The Empress put her mirror aside. Now she recognised him: it was Okinamaro. She called his name. He threw himself flat on the ground and yelped. The women came running, and soon they were all talking and laughing at once.
