Composed when caught in a shower, while making a pilgrimage to one hundred temples in Higashiyama.
もろともに山めぐりするしぐれかなふるにかひなき身とはしらずや
| morotomo ni yamamegurisuru sigure kana Furu ni kaFinaki mi to Fa sirazu ya | Together with me On my mountain pilgrimage are The showers! ‘Tis pointless to fall On my sorry self, don’t you know! |
Master of the Left Capital Office Michimasa
When His Majesty was recently retired, on a night when the moon was shining brightly, he sent this to him via a court lady.
すみのぼる月のひかりにさそはれてくものうへまでゆくこころかな
| suminoboru tsuki no hikari ni sasowarete kumo no ue made yuku kokoro kana | Clearly climbing The light of the moon Invites, Above the clouds, To go my heart! |
The Chancellor
When Akinaka, Head of the Department of Shintō, held a poetry match at Hirota, he composed this as a plea to the god on the topic of ‘Personal Grievances and the Moon’.
なにはえのあしまにやどる月みればわが身ひとつもしづまざりけり
| naniwae no ashima ni yadoru tsuki mireba wagami hitotsu mo shizumazarikeri | When at Naniwa inlet, Between the reeds lodging The moon I see ‘Tis not my sorry self alone that Is downcast, I know! |
Master of the Left Capital Office Akisuke
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
