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))
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