At the evening of the year, when she was lamenting that she had grown old.
かぞふればとしののこりもなかりけり老いぬるばかりかなしきはなし
kazoureba
toshi no nokori mo
nakarikeri
oinuru bakari
kanashiki wa nashi | I count the days, but
Remnants of this year
Are none;
My age, simply brings
Nothing but sadness. |
Izumi Shikibu
Composed on the evening of the year.
へだて行くよよの面かげかきくらし雪にふりぬるとしの暮かな
hedateyuku
yo yo no omokage
kakikurashi
yuki ni furinuru
toshi no kure kana | Disappearing into the distance
Are the shapes of times gone by,
Darkness descending with
The falling snow—my age
At the evening of the year. |
The Daughter of Master of the Dowager Empress Household Office Toshinari
Sent to someone at the evening of the year.
おのづからいはぬをしたふ人やあるとやすらふほどに年の暮れぬる
onozukara
iwanu o shitau
hito ya aru to
yasurau hodo ni
toshi no kurenuru | I
Said nothing, but fondly
Do you think of me?
And while I wondered,
The year has reached its evening. |
Saigyō
For a folding screen in the residence of Lord Kōtoku.
ふゆされ嵐のこゑもたかさごの松につけてぞきくべかりける
Fuyu sareba
arasi no kowe mo
takasago no
matu ni tukete zo
kikubekarikeru | When it is winter,
The storm-winds’ howling
Through Takasago’s
Pines is
What I hear. |
[Ōnakatomi no] Yoshinobu
'Simply moving and elegant'