Composed during the reign of former Emperor Ichijō, when His Majesty was presented with a gift of some eightfold cherry blossom from Nara and, being in attendance, he ordered her to composed a poem on this gift of blossom.
いにしへのならの宮このやへざくらけふここのへににほひぬるかな
| inishie no nara no miyako no yaezakura kyō kokonoe ni nioinuru kana | The ancient Capital of Nara had Eightfold cherry blossom, that Today within the ninefold palace Does shine! |
Ise no Taiyū
When she had something on her mind and was unable to sleep, she sat awake all night gazing at the bright moon until dawn, and composed this when her garden became slightly darkened by a shower.
神無月あり明の空のしぐるるを又われならぬ人やみるらん
| kaminaduki ariake no sora no sigururu wo mata ware naranu Fito ya miruran | In the Godless Month The sky at dawn is Covered with showers— Other than I, I wonder if he sees it, too? |
Akazome Emon
Topic unknown.
いかでかは思ひありともしらすべきむろの八島のけぶりならでは
| ika de ka Fa omoFi ari to Fa sirasubeki muro no yasima no keburi narade Fa | In some way or other Of my passion I should tell you; For, in Muro, from Yashima Isle Rising smoke it is not! |
Lord Fujiwara no Sanekata
Composed on the conception of the Song of the Everlasting Woe.
おもひかねわかれし野べをきてみればあさぢが原に秋かぜぞふく
| omoFikane wakaresi nobe wo kitemireba asadi ga hara ni akikaze zo Fuku | Unable to bear my longing To the meadows where we parted Have I come and fixed my gaze, but Across the cogon grass upon the plain Indeed, the autumn wind is blowing. |
Minamoto no Michinari
Composed for the Palace Poetry Match in Kanna 2[1].
秋の夜の月に心のあくがれて雲井に物をおもふ比かな
| aki no yo no tuki ni kokoro no akugarete kumowi ni mono wo omoFu koro kana | On an autumn night The moon my heart Draws forth, and What lies beyond the clouds is The object of my thoughts then! |
Former Emperor Kazan
[1] The headnote here is erroneous, as the text of this contest records it as taking place in Kanna 1 [985].
Sent to a cruel woman.
いかばかり人のつらさをうらみましうき身のとがとおもひなさずは
| ika bakari Fito no turasa wo uramimasi ukimi no toga to omoFinasazu Fa | How much Your cruelty I might despise, if My wretched lot I did not think to be at fault… |
Kamo no Narisuke
Topic unknown.
せをはやみいはにせかるるたき河のわれてもすゑにあはんとぞ思ふ
| se wo Fayami iFa ni sekaruru takikawa no waretemo suwe ni awan to zo omoFu | The fast-running rapids By rocks are blocked— A cataract Shattered, yet at the end How I long to meet her! |
The recently Retired Emperor [Sutoku]
Composed on an old man’s regret for blossom, at the house of Lord Fujiwara no Kanefusa.
ちる花もあはれとみずやいそのかみふりはつるまでをしむこころを
| tiru Fana mo aFare to mizu ya iso no kami FuriFaturu made wosimu kokoro wo | The scattered blossom Moves me without doubt; Until a stone-bound Ancient I have become will Regrets linger in my heart… |
Lord Fujiwara no Norinaga
Composed by command on the topic of a distant view across the sea when His Majesty [Emperor Sutoku] was newly retired as emperor.
わたのはらこぎいでてみれば久方の雲井にまがふおきつしらなみ
| wata no Fara kogi’idedete mireba Fisakata no kumowi ni magaFu oki tu siranami | When across the wide seascape On rowing out I turn my gaze The eternal Clouds are tangled with The whitecaps in the offing.[i] |
The Former Chancellor and Palace Minister
[i] An allusive variation on Omuro gojisshu 601.
Composed and sent to Master of the Right Capital Office Akisuke when he was Governor of Ōmi, to remark on his travelling to a distant district.
おもひかねそなたの空をながむればただ山のはにかかるしら雲
| omoFikane sonata no sora wo nagamureba tada yama no Fa ni kakaru sirakumo | Unbearable is my heart’s pain— Upon the distant skies I gaze, but Simply upon the mountains’ edge Cling clouds of white.[i] |
The Former Chancellor and Palace Minister
[i] An allusive variation on Rinkashū 205.