Topic unknown.
夏山になく郭公心あらば物思ふ我に聲なきかせそ
natu yama ni
naku Fototogisu
kokoro araba
mono’omoFu ware ni
kowe nakikaseso |
In these summer mountains,
Oh, singing cuckoo,
Take pity on me-
So melancholy-
And shut up! |
Anonymous
Composed at the Iso no Kami temple in Nara on hearing the cuckoo sing.
いその神ふるき宮この郭公聲ばかりこそむかしなりけれ
iso no kami
Furuki miyako no
Fototogisu
kowe bakari koso
mukasi narikere |
Here at Iso no Kami
In the ancient capital
The cuckoo’s
Call alone
Is as of old. |
The Monk Sosei (859-897)
素性法師
Composed on hearing the first cuckoo of the year.
郭公はつこゑきけばあぢきなくぬしさだまらぬこひせらるはた
Fototogisu
Fatsukowe kikeba
adikinaku
nusi sadamaranu
koFiseraru Fata |
The cuckoo’s
First call comes to me and,
Foolishly,
With no one in mind
I think of love. |
The Monk Sosei (859-897)
素性法師
Composed when he was passing through the Otowa mountains and heard a cuckoo calling.
おとは山けさこえくれば郭公こずゑはるかに今ぞなくなる
otoFa yama
kesa koekureba
Fototogisu
kozuwe Farukani
ima zo nakunaru |
In the Otowa mountains,
As I pass through this morning,
A cuckoo
Far distant in the treetops
Is singing. |
Ki no Tomonori (d. ca. 905)
紀友則
Topic unknown.
けさきなきいまだたびなる郭公花たちばなにやどはからなむ
kesa ki naki
imada tabi naru
Fototogisu
Fana tachibana ni
yado Fa karanan |
This morning, you did come, and call
But still you journey on;
Oh, cuckoo,
These orange blossoms
I would lend you for a lodging. |
Anonymous.
Topic unknown.
いつのまにさ月きぬらむあしひきの山郭公今ぞなくなる
itu no ma ni
satuki kinuran
asiFiki no
yama Fototogisu
ima zo nakunaru |
In an instant
The Fifth month is here, for
Foot-wearying
Mountain cuckoos
Are already calling. |
Anonymous.
Topic unknown.
さつきまつ花橘のかをかげば昔の人の袖のかぞする
satuki matu
Fana tatibana no
ka wo kageba
mukasi no Fito no
sode no ka zo suru |
Awaiting the Fifth Month
The orange blossoms’
Scent fills the air, and
Folk from long ago
With their perfumed sleeves come back to me. |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
五月こばなきもふりなん郭公まだしきほどのこゑをきかばや
satuki koba
naki mo Furinan
Fototogisu
madasiki Fodo no
kowe wo kikaba ya | If the Fifth month comes,
Even your song will pall,
Cuckoo.
But while it’s fresh
Could I hear your voice? |
Lady Ise
伊勢
Topic unknown.
皐月待つ山時鳥うちはぶき今も鳴かなん去年の古声
satuki matu
yama Fototogisu
utiFabuki
ima mo nakanan
kozo no Furugowe |
Pining for the Fifth month,
Mountain cuckoo,
Beat your wings.
If only you would sing now
With the voice of yesteryear. |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
わがやどの池の藤波さきにけり山郭公いつかきなかむ
wa ga yado no
ike no Fudinami
sakinikeri
yama Fototogisu
ituka kinakamu |
At my home
On the pond wisteria waves
Are breaking;
Mountain cuckoo,
When might you come and sing? |
Anonymous.
This poem is said by some to be by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro.
'Simply moving and elegant'