おもしろき野をばな焼きそ古草に新草交り生ひは生ふるがに
omosiroki
no woba na yaki so
purukusa ni
niikusa maziri
opi pa opuru gani |
The charming
Field: o, burn it not! For
Among the old growth
New shoots
Do seem to be growing… |
Expressing true feelings.
敷栲の枕をまきて妹と我れと寝る夜はなくて年ぞ経にける
sikitape no
makura wo makite
imo to are to
nuru yo pa nakute
tosi zo penikeru |
Spread mulberry cloth
For a pillow tangled,
My love and I
Sleep no nights away, and only
Years have gone by! |
Composed thinking of something.
礒の上に立てるむろの木ねもころに何しか深め思ひそめけむ
iso no kami
tateru muro no ki
nemokoro ni
nani sika pukame
omopisomeken |
Upon the cliff
Stands a juniper tree
So gently, but
Somehow deeply
Have I begun to love her. |
Kakinomoto no Hitomaro Collection
柿本人麻呂歌集
Expressing true feelings.
恋ひ死なば恋ひも死ねとか我妹子が我家の門を過ぎて行くらむ
kopisinaba
kopi mo sine to ka
wagimoko ga
wagipe no kadeo wo
sugite yukuran |
“If one can die of love, then
Do so!” says
My darling girl
As before my dwelling’s gate
She seems to go by! |
Kakinomoto no Hitomaro Collection
柿本人麻呂歌集
Composed on paddy fields.
足引の山田作る子秀でずとも縄だに延へよ守ると知るがね
asipiki no
yamada tukuru ko
pidezu tomo
napa dani paeyo
mori to siru gane |
The leg-straining
Moutain paddies’ offspring
Have yet to show, but
At least string ropes there, so
All know they are warded! |
A poem by Imube no obito Kuromaro
秋田刈る刈廬もいまだ壊たねば雁が音寒し霜も置きぬがに
akita karu
kari ipo mo imada
kopotaneba
kari ga ne samusi
simo mo okinu gani |
Reaping autumn fields
My temporary harvest-hut is yet
To fall, but
The goose calls are so chill that
Frost seems sure to fall… |
Imube no Kuromaro
忌部黒麿
A poem by Middle Councillor Abe no Hironiwa.
去年の春いこじて植ゑし我が宿の若木の梅は花咲きにけり
kozo no paru
ikozite uwesi
wa ga yado no
wakaki no ume pa
pana sakinikeri |
In spring last year
I did dig to plant
At my home
A young plum tree whose
Blossom has bloomed! |
Abe no Hironiwa
阿部広庭
鹿背の山木立を茂み朝さらず来鳴き響もす鴬の声
kase no yama
kodati wo sigemi
asa sarazu
kinaki toyomosu
ugupisu no kowe |
On Kase Mountain
The groves are so lush that
Unable to wait for morning
Comes the echo of
The warbler’s song! |
Tanabe no Sakimaro Collection
田辺福麻呂歌集
A poem composed by Lord Ōtomo, Governor General of Dazai, on hearing some ill news.
世間は空しきものと知る時しいよよますます悲しかりけり
yo no naka pa
munasiki mono to
siru toki si
yoyo masumasu
kanasikarikeri
|
This world of ours
Is a fragile thing, indeed –
When I realise this
Ever ever greater
Is my sorrow! |
Ōtomo no Tabito
大伴旅人
[One of] eight travel poems composed by Takechi no muraji Kurohito.
我が舟は比良の港に漕ぎ泊てむ沖へな離りさ夜更けにけ
wa ga pune pa
pira no minato ni
kogipatemu
oki pe na sakari
sayo pukenikeri |
My boat
In the port of Hira
Shall rest its oars!
O, leave not the offing, for
Brief night has dawned. |
Takechi no Kurohito
高市黒人
'Simply moving and elegant'