A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the Kanpyō period.

春の野に若菜つまむと来し物をちりかふ花に道はまどひぬ

Faru no no ni wakana tumamu to koshi mono wo tirikaFu Fana ni miti Fa madoFinu

To the meadows in springtime Thinking to pick fresh herbs Did I come, but Amongst the scattered blossom Have I lost my way.

Tsurayuki