Topic unknown.
遠近のたづきもしらぬ山中におぼつかなくも喚子鳥哉
wotikoti no
taduki mo siranu
yamanaka ni
obotuka naku mo
yobukodori kana | All around from near and far
In the trackless
Mountains’ heart
I wonder, is that song
Bird calling me! |
Anonymous
Composed on a willow near the great Western Temple.
浅緑糸よりかけて白露を珠にもぬける春の柳か
asamidori
ito yorikakete
shiratuyu wo
tama ni mo nukeru
Faru no yanagi ka | Pale green
Threads entwining and
With white dew
Jewels a’strung –
That is a willow in springtime! |
Archbishop Henjō
Composed for a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the Kanpyō period.
常盤なる松のみどりも春くれば今ひとしほの色まさりけり
tokiFa naru
matu no midori mo
Faru kureba
ima FitosiFo no
iro masarikeri | When to the eternal
Pine’s green
Spring does come,
Now all the more vibrant
Is its hue! |
Minamoto no Muneyuki
源宗于
A poem composed by the Ninna Emperor when he was a prince, and someone presented him with some fresh herbs.
きみがため春の野にいでてわかなつむわが衣手に雪は降りつつ
kimi ga tame
Faru no no idete
wakana tumu
wa ga koromode ni
yuki Fa Furitutu | For you
In springtime do I go out to
Pluck fresh herbs, while
Upon my sleeves
The snow is ever falling. |
Emperor Kōkō
Topic unknown.
野辺ちかく家居しせればうぐひすのなかなるこゑは朝な朝なきく
nobe tikaku
iewi sisereba
uguFisu no
nakanaru kowe Fa
asana asana kiku | When out upon the meadows
I have made my home
The warbler’s
Voice, singing,
Is all I hear each morn. |
Anonymous
A poem on the beginning of spring.
はるきぬと人はいへどもうぐひすのなかぬかぎりはあらじとぞ思
Faru kinu to
Fito Fa iFedomo
uguFisu no
nakanu kagiri Fa
arazi to zo omoFu | Spring has come, or
So folk say, yet
While the warbler
Sings not,
I feel that is untrue. |
Mibu no Tadamine
Composed at the beginning of spring.
春やとき花やをそき聞き分かむ鶯だにも鳴かずもあるかな
Faru ya toki
Fana ya wosoki
kikiwakamu
uguFisu dani mo
nakazu mo aru kana | Is it that spring has come swiftly,
Or that the blossom is delayed?
I long to discern
The warbler, but even she
Lets out not a single song… |
Fujiwara no Kotonao
藤原言直
Composed when snow was falling.
霞たち木の芽も春の雪ふれば花なき里も花ぞちりける
kasumi tati
ko no me mo Faru no
yuki Fureba
Fana naki sato mo
Fana zo chirikeru | Amidst the rising haze
Upon the budding trees in springtime
Snow does fall, so
Even a bloomless estate
Has a scattering of blossom. |
Tsurayuki
Storms 嵐
吉野山みねの嵐のはげしさにささのいほりは露もたまらず
yoshino yama
mine no arashi no
hageshisa ni
sasa no iori wa
tsuyu mo tamarazu | From Yoshino Mountain
The storm winds off the peak
Are so fierce that
Upon my hut of poor bamboo
Not a single drop of dew will settle. |
Daishin
Storms 嵐
蔀やまおろす嵐のはげしきに柴のとぼそもあけぬ比かな
shitomi yama
orosu arashi no
hageshiki ni
shiba no toboso mo
akenu koro kana | My shutters – the wild mountain
Storm wind is
So fierce –
Their brushwood barrier
I’ll not open now! |
Higo
'Simply moving and elegant'