Composed when he was on a pilgrimage to worship Kannon at thirty-three places, and saw oil emerging at Tanigumi, in Mino.[1]
よをてらすほとけのしるしありければまだともし火もきえぬなりけり
yo wo terasu Fotoke no sirusi arikereba mada tomosibi mo kienu narikeri | Shining light upon the world, This Buddha, a sign Does give: As yet, the lanterns Never have gone out! |
Former Archbishop Kakuchū
前大僧正覚忠
[1] This poem was composed at the Kegonji 華厳寺 temple on Mount Tagumi (Tagumisan 谷汲山) in the middle of what is now Gifu 岐阜 prefecture.
In reply to Her Majesty.
雲のうへもくらしかねける春の日をところがらともながめつるかな
kumo no uFe mo kurasikanekeru Faru no Fi wo tokorogara tomo nagameturu kana | Above the clouds There can be no darkness With the springtime sun— How fitting for this place that Long have I gazed upon it! |
Sei Shōnagon
Composed on the conception of love, when he presented a hundred poem sequence during the reign of former emperor Horikawa.
ひとり寝る我にて知りぬ池水につがはぬ鴛の思ふ心を
hitori nuru ware nite shirinu ikemizu ni tsugawanu oshi no omou kokoro o | Sleeping alone, I know so well: Atop the pond waters An unmated mandarin’s Heartfelt feelings… |
Major Counsellor Kinzane
Composed when he presented a hundred poem sequence, during the reign of former Emperor Horikawa.
山ざとはさびしかりけりこがらしのふく夕ぐれのひぐらしのこゑ
yamazato Fa sabisikarikeri kogarasi no Fuku yuFugure no higurasi no kowe | A mountain retreat is Lonely, indeed; The biting wind Blows of an evening with The sundown cicadas’ cries. |
Fujiwara no Nakazane
藤原仲実
Composed when he presented a hundred poem sequence during the reign of former Emperor Horikawa.
こがらしの雲ふきはらふたかねよりさえても月のすみのぼるかな
kogarasi no kumo FukiFaraFu takane yori saetemo tuki no suminoboru kana | The biting wind Blows the clouds From off the high peaks, ‘Tis cold, but the moon Climbs clear! |
Minamoto no Toshiyori (Shunrai)
Composed as a love poem.
よもすがら物思ふころはあけやらぬねやのひまさへつれなかりけり
yomosugara mono’omoFu koro wa akeyaranu neya no Fima saFe turenakarikeri | Night after night, Sunk in gloomy thoughts which Never lift, The time spent in my bed Is tedious, indeed! |
Monk Shun’e
At a time when he produced a Hundred Poem Sequence, His Majesty composed this as a poem on orange blossoms.
五月雨にはなたちばなのかをる夜は月すむ秋もさもあらばあれ
samidare ni hanatachibana no kaoru yo wa tsuki sumu aki mo sa mo araba are | Early summer showers fall, and Orange blossom Scents the night; The clear, bright moon of autumn Hardly seems to match it… |
Emperor Sutoku
Composed on the conception of a pillow scented with orange blossom.
をりしもあれ花たちばなのかをるかなむかしをみつる夢の枕に
orishi mo are hanatachibana no kaoru kana mukashi o mitsuru yume no makura ni | In days gone by and yet now still Orange blossoms Do I scent! A love long gone I glimpse when Dreaming on my pillow. |
Fujiwara no Kinhira
Topic unknown.
わがやどの花たちばなにふく風をたが里よりとたれながむらん
wa ga yado no hanatachibana ni fuku kaze o ta ga sato yori to tare nagamuran | From my home The scent of orange blossom Is carried on the breeze; Will you wonder from whose house it came Lost in pensive thoughts? |
Major Controller of the Left Chikamune
Topic unknown.
うき雲のいざよふよひの村雨におひ風しるくにほふたちばな
ukigumo no izayou yoi no murasame ni oikaze shiruku niou tachibana | Drifting clouds Trail through the night Bringing a summer shower and On the pursuing breeze, clearly, The scent of orange blossom. |
Fujiwara no Iemoto
'Simply moving and elegant'