Composed on the topic of lingering snow for a poetry match held by Her Majesty, the Empress during the reign of the Goreizei emperor:
はなならでをらまほしきはなにはえのあしのわかばにふれるしらゆき
Fana narade woramahosiki Fa naniFae no asi no wakaba ni Fureru shirayuki | Though they are not blossoms How I long to pick At Naniwa Inlet From the new-grown reed tips Fallen snowflakes. |
Lord Fujiwara no Norinaga
Composed for the Palace Poetry Match held on the 10th day of the Eighth Month, Kanna 1.
いつもみる月ぞとおもへどあきのよはいかなるかげをそふるなるらん
itumo miru tuki zo to omoFedo aki no yo Fa ika naru kage wo soFurunaruran | Always, do I see The moon, I thought, yet On an autumn night What is this light That trails over all? |
Fujiwara no Nagayoshi
Topic unknown.
ゆきとまるところぞはるはなかりける花に心のあかぬかぎりは
yukitomaru tokoro zo Faru Fa nakarikeru Fana ni kokoro no akanu kagiri Fa | To go and stay A place in springtime Have I none For the blossoms, my heart Have yet to sate completely. |
Sugawara no Tamenobu
On seeing Fukiage Beach when on the road on a pilgrimage to Kumano.
みやこにてふきあげのはまを人とはばけふみるばかりいかがかたらん
miyako nite Fukiage no Fama wo Fito toFaba keFu miru bakari ikaga kataran | In the capital Of Fukiage Beach Should folk enquire, Simply what I see today How could I describe? |
Dharma Master Kaien
懐円法師
When Major Counsellor Kintō said, ‘You should come to see the profusion of blossoms,’ and he was unable to visit.
花もみな散りなん後はわが宿のなににつけてか人をまつべき
Fana mo mina tirinan noti Fa wa ga yado no nani ni tukete ka Fito wo matubeki | After the blossoms, every one, Have scattered, then At my house Why, indeed, Should I folk await? |
Imperial Prince Tomohira, Minister of Central Affairs
Composed when he had gone to the residence of Narisuke, the Chief Priest of Kamo, when drunk, was sorrowing that he had yet to be promoted.
もみぢするかつらのなかにすみよしのまつのみひとりみどりなるかな
momidisuru katura no naka ni sumiyosi no matu no mi Fitori midori naru kana | Among the scarlet-leaved Katsura, Sumiyoshi’s Solitary pinecone Is green! |
Kunimoto, the Governor of Tsu
Composed when he had gone to Sumiyoshi.
すみよしの松のしづえに神さびてみどりにみゆるあけのたまがき
sumiyosi no matu no sidue ni kamisabite midori ni miyuru ake no tamagaki | At Sumiyoshi, The low pine boughs Fill me with awe, Green as they appear Among the vermillion jewelled fences. |
Dharma Master Ranchū
Composed when remembering someone who had passed away in the autumn.
としごとにむかしはとほくなりゆけどうかりし秋はまたもきにけり
tosi goto ni mukasi Fa toFoku nariyukedo ukarisi aki Fa mata mo kinikeri | Every single year That long-gone day more distant Grows, yet Despised autumn Has come round once more. |
Minamoto no Shigeyuki
Composed beholding the bright moon, when he was suffering from illness and considering abdicating the throne.
心にもあらでうき世にながらへば恋しかるべき夜はの月かな
kokoro ni mo arade ukiyo ni nagaraFeba koFisikarubeki yoFa no tuki kana | My heart Is not in it, but in this sorry world Should I stay on, then Surely will I love Tonight’s midnight moon! |
Former Emperor Sanjō
Created with Soan.
Composed for the Palace Poetry Match in Eishō 4.
あらしふくみむろの山のもみぢばはたつたの川のにしきなりけり
arasi Fuku mimuro no yama no momidiba Fa tatuta no kaFa no nisiki narikeri | The storm wind blowing Down Mimuro Mountain makes The scarlet leaves Upon the Tatsuta River A fine brocade. |
Monk Nōin
Created with Soan.
'Simply moving and elegant'