A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Dowager Empress during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
人しれずしたにながるる涙川せきとどめなむかげは見ゆると
| hito shirezu shita ni nagaruru namidagawa seki todomenamu kage wa miyuru to | Unknown to all Beneath there flows A river of tears; O, for a dam to halt it, that I could glimpse her face… |
Anonymous
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Dowager Empress during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
夏の夜は水まさればやあまのがはながるる月のかげもとどめぬ
| natsu no yo wa mizu masareba ya ama no kawa nagaruru tsuki no kage mo todomenu | On a summer night Perhaps, because the waters are so fine Of the River of Heaven? Drifting, the moon’s Face, too, tarries not. |
Anonymous
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
年をへてもゆてふふじの山よりもあはぬ思ひは我ぞまされる
| toshi o hete moyu chō fuji no yama yori mo awanu omoi wa ware zo masareru | Through all the passing years Burns Fuji; Far more than the mountain, Not meeting you, the flames of passion, Burn brightly in me. |
Anonymous
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Dowager Empress during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
なつ草のしげき思ひは蚊遣火の下にのみこそもえ渡りけれ
| natsukusa no shigeki omoi wa kayaribi no shita ni nomi koso moewatarikere | As summer grasses Lush my fires of passion: as Mosquito smudges, Beneath they simply Burn everywhere. |
Anonymous
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
夏虫にあらぬ我が身のつれもなき人をおもひにもゆる比かな
| natsumushi ni aranu wa ga mi no tsure mo naki hito o omoi ni moyuru koro kana | A summer insect I am not, but That heartless Girl, with passion Has these days set me burning! |
Anonymous
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
秋のよのあまてる月の光にはおく白露を玉とこそ見れ
| aki no yo no ama teru tsuki no hikari ni wa oku shiratsuyu o tama to koso mire | On an autumn night The heaven-shining moon’s Light upon The fallen silver dewdrops Truly, makes them seem as jewels. |
Anonymous
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
色ふかくみる野辺だにも常ならば春は行くともかたみならまし
| iro fukaku miru nobe dani mo tsune naraba haru wa yuku tomo katami naramashi | Deep the hues On display within the meadows—if that Should be the norm, then Even when the spring is gone A keepsake they would be. |
Anonymous
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
春ながら年はくれなん散る花ををしと鳴くなる鶯のこゑ
| haru nagara toshi wa kurenan chiru hana o oshi to nakunaru uguisu no koe | ‘Tis spring, but The year draws to an end; ‘The scattering blossom I regret!’ sings The warbler’s song. |
Anonymous