When Prince Katsura had said ‘Catch some fireflies,’ and one of the boys had them wrapped up in the sleeves of his jacket.
つつめどもかくれぬ物は夏虫の身よりあまれる思ひなりけり
| tutumedomo kakurenu mono Fa natumusi no mi yori amareru omoFinarikeri | Wrapped up, yet Unconcealable are The summer insects: Their bodies bringing an excess Of passion’s fires. |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
やへむぐらしげきやどには夏虫の声より外に問ふ人もなし
| yaFemugura sigeki yado ni Fa natumusi no kowe yori Foka ni toFu Fito mo nasi | The tangled, overlapping creepers A lush dwelling do make; The summer insects’ Songs apart No folk come to call. |
Anonymous
When she had been living with Prince Motonaga for some time, as an amusement the Prince tied up a box with something in it with his under-belt and, saying he would be back for it, left it lying about somewhere; after he had gone out, she was abducted and hidden away by Prince Tsune’akira, and it was only after many days and months had gone by that she returned to her former house, and sent the box, with this to Prince Motonaga.
あけてだに何にかは見む水の江の浦島の子を思ひやりつつ
| akete dani nani ni ka Fa mimu mizu no e no urasima no ko wo omoFiyaritutu |
Even should I open it What is it that I might see? By the waters’ edge The lad from Urashima Is ever in my thoughts… |
Nakatsukasa
中務
In return.
何にかは袖の濡るらん白浪の名残有りげも見えぬ心を
| nani ni ka Fa sode no nururan siranami no nagori arige mo mienu kokoro wo |
For what Should my sleeves seem so wet? The whitecaps Must have left a keepsake Unseen, in my heart… |
Taiyu
大輔
When she was alone, an equiry arrived from someone as to how she was, so she attached this to a morning glory and sent it to him.
夕暮のさびしき物は朝顔の花を頼める宿にぞ有りける
| yuFugure no sabisiki mono Fa asagaFo no Fana wo tanomeru yado ni zo arikeru |
The evening is So lonely: A morning glory Bloom alone is trustworthy At my house! |
Anonymous
When he drew the topic of dew, when people were composing poetry on randomly selected topics at the residence of the Minister of the Left.
我ならぬ草葉もものは思ひけり袖より外におけるしらつゆ
| aFare naranu kusaba mo mono Fa omoFikeri sode yori Foka ni okeru siratuyu |
Not only I, but All the grassy leaves Are sunk in gloomy thought For in places other than my sleeves Fall silver dewdrops. |
Fujiwara no Tadakuni
藤原忠国
When the gentlemen and ladies of the household of the Minister of the Left were getting dressed for a coming-of-age ceremony.
大原やをしほの山のこまつ原はや木高かれ千代の影みむ
| oFoFara ya wosiFo no yama no komatubara haya ko takakare tiyo no kage mimu |
At Ōhara, On Oshio Mountain The young pine saplings Will grow swiftly into mighty trees and See a thousand generations pass! |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
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))