Category Archives: Goshūishū

GSIS I: 49

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

GSIS IV: 256

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

GSIS I: 127

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

GSIS XVII: 987

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

GSIS X: 597

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

GSIS XV: 860

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

A kuzushiji version of the poem's text.
Created with Soan.