Composed on cuckoos.
ふるさとはこだかけれどもきみならぬほととぎすにもうとまれにけり
Furusato Fa
kodakeredomo
kimi naranu
Fototogisu ni mo
utomarenikeri | Around this ancient estate
The trees grow high, yet
Not by you alone,
By the cuckoo, to
Am I despised. |
Mibu no Tadamine
Composed on irises as part of a hundred poem sequence.
あづまぢのかほやがぬまのかきつばたはるをこめてもさきにけるかな
azumadi no
kaoya ga numa no
kakitubata
Faru wo komete mo
sakinikeru kana | On the Eastern Road, at
Kaoya Marsh,
Irises
Encompassing all of springtime
Have bloomed! |
Master of the Palace Repairs Office Akisue
修理大夫顕季
Composed on the conception of falling flowers.
春ごとにおなじ櫻の花なれば惜しむ心もかはらざりけり
Faru goto ni
onazi sakura no
Fana nareba
oshimu kokoro mo
kaFazarikeri | Each and every spring
Just the same the cherry
Blossoms,
So, too, my feelings of regret,
Are unchanging. |
The Mother of Lord Nagazane
Composed on the conception of falling flowers.
春ごとにおなじ櫻の花なれば惜しむ心もかはらざりけり
Faru goto ni
onazi sakura no
Fana nareba
oshimu kokoro mo
kaFazarikeri | Each and every spring
Just the same the cherry
Blossoms,
So, too, my feelings of regret,
Are unchanging. |
The Mother of Lord Nagazane
Composed on the scent of plum blossom at night.
むめがえにかぜやふくらん春の夜はをらぬ袖さへにほひぬるかな
mume ga e ni
kaze ya Fukuran
Faru no yo Fa
woranu sode saFe
nioFinuru kana | Are the plum trees’ branches
Being blown by the wind?
On a night in springtime
Even unfolded sleeves
Give forth a scent! |
Nagafusa, Former Assistant Governor General of the Dazaifu
In reply:
朝戸あけて春の木末の雪みれば初花ともやいふべかるらん
asato akete
Faru no kozuwe no
yuki mireba
FatuFana tomo ya
iFubekaruran | On opening my morning door, and
In springtime on the treetops
Snow seeing,
‘First flowers’, perhaps
I should call it… |
Master of the Crown Prince’s Household Office [Fujiwara no] Kinzane (1053-1107)
Sent when he saw snow falling, around the First Day of the First Month.
あらたまの年のはじめに降りしけば初雪とこそいふべからりけれ
aratama no
tosi no Fadime ni
Furisikeba
Fatuyuki to koso
iFubekarikere | When at the jewel-bright, new
Year’s beginning
It falls so heavily,
‘First snow’,
I should call it. |
Master of the Office of Palace Repairs [Fujiwara no] Akisue (1055-1123)
'Simply moving and elegant'
