When Lord Kin’yori spent all his time visiting the home of the lady with whom he was currently involved.
ながめつゝ人待つ宵の呼子鳥何方へとか行きかへるらむ
| nagametutu Fito matu yoFi no yobu kotori idukata Fe to ka yukikaFeruramu |
Gazing out Awaiting you all night long, The crying songbirds, Seem to say, “Where to?” As they go back and forth… |
The Mother of the Monk Kankan
寛湛法師母
Topic unknown.
常もなき夏の草葉に置く露を命と頼む蟬のはかなさ
| tune mo naki natu no kusaba ni oku tuyu wo inoti to tanomu semi no Fakanasa |
Upon the ever changing Summer leaves Drips dew: The only fit foundation for The cicadas’ brief life… |
Anonymous
On taking the ceremonial wine cup in the Imperial Presence on the day of the extraordinary Kamo Festival, during the Engi period.
かくてのみやむへきものかちはやぶるかもの社のよろづ世を見む
| kakute nomi yamubeki mono ka tiFayaburu kamo no yasiro no yoroduyo wo mimu |
With this simply Should it end? Puissant Kamo Shrine Will see ten thousand ages pass! |
The Sanjō Minister of the Right
(Fujiwara no Sadakata 藤原定方 (873-932))
When the Biwa Minister of the Left, having some use for them, requested some oak leaves, and this was sent to the house of his acquaintence, Chikane, to obtain them.
我が宿を何時馴らしてか楢の葉を馴らし顔には折りにをこする
| wa ga yado wo itu narasite ka nara no Fa wo narasigaFo ni Fa wori ni okosuru |
With my home When did you become so familiar? That leaves of oak So freely Do you send to pick! |
Toshiko
俊子
When a man who had long visited a woman at the house of the Sugawara Minister, ceased coming for a while, and then came once more.
菅原や伏見の里の荒れしより通ひし人のあともたえにき
| sugaFara ya Fusimi no sato no aresi yori kayoFisi Fito no ato mo taeniki |
Sedge fields lie Around the estate of Fushimi, All long overgrown; He who passed across them Has left no tracks at all… |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
いかにして事語らはん郭公歎の下に鳴けはかひなし
| ika ni shite koto katarawan hototogisu nageki no shita ni nake wa kai nashi |
Whatever he may do, To tell me, For the cuckoo Beneath the gloomy trees To call is pointless… |
Anonymous
Sent to a woman.
天の戸をあけぬあけぬと言ひなして空鳴きしつる鳥の声かな
| ama no to o akenu akenu to iinashite sora nakishitsuru tori no koe kana |
“The gates of Heaven Are open! Are open!” Cries A song from the sky In a bird’s call… |
Anonymous
On hearing the frogs .
我宿にあひ宿り宿りしてすむ蛙夜になればやものは悲しき
| wa ga yado ni aFiyadorisite sumu kaFadu yoru ni nareba ya mono Fa kanasiki |
At my home I lodge together with The frogs dwelling there; Is it that night has come That make everything so sad? |
Anonymous
In reply.
名のみして逢ふ事浪の茂き間にいつか玉藻を海人は潜かん
| na nomi site aFu koto nami no sigeki ma ni ituka tamamo wo ama wa kadukan |
In name alone Do we meet; while the waves Are so strong, When for gemweed Will the fisherman dive? |
Anonymous
At around the the time the Kanpyō Emperor took Holy Orders, ladies were only permitted to serve him from beyond his curtains, and being unable to approach him closely, she wrote this and fastened it to his screen.
立ちよらは影踏む許近けれど誰かなこその関をすゑけん
| tatiyoraba kage Fumu bakari tikakeredo tare ka nakoso no seki o suweken |
If I were to approach, I would simply step upon your shadow; I am so close, yet Who is it Nakoso – Come not – That barrier has placed between us? |
The Kohachijō Miyasudokoro 小八条御息所
[Minamoto no Sadako 源貞子]