Topic unknown.
よそにのみあはれとぞ見し梅花あかぬ色香は折てなりけり
| yoso ni nomi aFare to zo misi ume no Fana akanu iroka Fa woritenarikeri | Simply at a distance Did their sight move me, but that Of Plum blossoms’ Hue and scent, I never can be sated I know now I have plucked them! |
The Monk Sosei
Composed when he picked some plum blossoms.
鶯の笠に縫ふてふ梅花折てかざさむ老かくるやと
| uguFisu no kasa ni nuFu teFu ume no Fana worite kazasamu oi kakuru ya to | That the warbler A parasol does weave, they say, so Plum blossom Should I pluck and wear within my hair To hide the signs of age? |
The Higashi Sanjō Minister
Topic unknown.
梅花立よる許ありしより人のとがむる香にぞしみぬる
| ume no Fana tatiyoru bakari arisi yori Fito no togamuru ka ni zo shiminuru | Among the plum blossom Did I briefly stand; Since then She does reproach me for The scent that clings about me. |
Anonymous
Composed when hearing the geese calling and thinking of someone who had gone to Koshi.
春くればかりかへるなり白雲の道行ぶりにことやつてまし
| Faru kureba kari kaFerunari shirakumo no mitiyukiburi ni koto ya tutemasi | When spring does come, The geese head home; Among clouds of white Upon their way, O, I would they’d take a message with them! |
Ōshikōchi no Mitsune
Topic unknown.
遠近のたづきもしらぬ山中におぼつかなくも喚子鳥哉
| wotikoti no taduki mo siranu yamanaka ni obotuka naku mo yobukodori kana | All around from near and far In the trackless Mountains’ heart I wonder, is that song Bird calling me! |
Anonymous
Composed on a willow near the great Western Temple.
浅緑糸よりかけて白露を珠にもぬける春の柳か
| asamidori ito yorikakete shiratuyu wo tama ni mo nukeru Faru no yanagi ka | Pale green Threads entwining and With white dew Jewels a’strung – That is a willow in springtime! |
Archbishop Henjō
Composed for a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the Kanpyō period.
常盤なる松のみどりも春くれば今ひとしほの色まさりけり
| tokiFa naru matu no midori mo Faru kureba ima FitosiFo no iro masarikeri | When to the eternal Pine’s green Spring does come, Now all the more vibrant Is its hue! |
Minamoto no Muneyuki
源宗于
A poem composed by the Ninna Emperor when he was a prince, and someone presented him with some fresh herbs.
きみがため春の野にいでてわかなつむわが衣手に雪は降りつつ
| kimi ga tame Faru no no idete wakana tumu wa ga koromode ni yuki Fa Furitutu | For you In springtime do I go out to Pluck fresh herbs, while Upon my sleeves The snow is ever falling. |
Emperor Kōkō
Topic unknown.
野辺ちかく家居しせればうぐひすのなかなるこゑは朝な朝なきく
| nobe tikaku iewi sisereba uguFisu no nakanaru kowe Fa asana asana kiku | When out upon the meadows I have made my home The warbler’s Voice, singing, Is all I hear each morn. |
Anonymous
A poem on the beginning of spring.
はるきぬと人はいへどもうぐひすのなかぬかぎりはあらじとぞ思
| Faru kinu to Fito Fa iFedomo uguFisu no nakanu kagiri Fa arazi to zo omoFu | Spring has come, or So folk say, yet While the warbler Sings not, I feel that is untrue. |
Mibu no Tadamine