Composed for a folding screen with a picture suited to a month of the year upon it.
あふさかの関のし水に影見えて今やひくらんもち月のこま
| aFusaka no seki no simidu ni kage miete ima ya Fikuran motiduki no koma | In Ausaka Barrier’s spring waters Are they reflected; Is it now they’re taken hence, The colts of Mochizuki? |
Ki no Tsurayuki
Topic unknown.
叩くとて宿の妻戸を開けたれば人も梢の水鶏なりけり
| tataku tote yado no tumado wo aketareba Fito mo kozuwe no kunina narikeri |
Knocking at My dwelling’s door, but When I open it, He has not come – in the treetops It was but a water-rail! |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
ちちわくに人はいふともおりてきむわかはた物に白き麻衣
| titiwaku ni Fito Fa iFu tomo orite kimu wa ga Fatamono ni siroki asaginu |
At any rate Folk do say, Weave it, and we’ll try it on – Lying on my loom, A white coat of hemp! |
Kakinomoto no Hitomaro
柿本人麻呂
Topic unknown.
岩根踏み重なる山はなけれども逢はぬ日数を恋や渡らん
| iFane Fumi kasanaru yama Fa nakeredomo aFanu Fi kazu wo koFi ya wataran |
Crag trodden Layered mountains Are there none, yet Over the number of days we meet not I wonder, will our love span? |
The Elder Maiden of Sakanoue
坂上郎女
Topic unknown.
人知れぬ泪に袖は朽ちにけり逢ふ夜もあらば何に包まむ
| Fito sirenu namida ni sode Fa kutinikeri aFu yo mo araba nani ni tutumamu |
Unknown to all Tears my sleeves Have rotteed; Should the night come we meet With what should I wrap myself? |
Anonymous
On the road to Hatsuse, and seeing Mount Miwa.
三輪の山印の杉はあり乍をしへし人はなくていく世ぞ
| miwa no yama sirusi no sugi Fa arinagara wosiesi Fito Fa nakute iku yo zo |
On Mount Miwa Cedars stand sentinel Still, yet The one who told me this Is no longer in this world… |
Kiyowara no Motosuke
清原元輔
When a woman who had long been an acquaintence of Left Middle Captain Naritoki departed for Tsukushi, Lord Sanekata, went as a messenger to Usa, and she gave this to him out of concern.
今日迄は生の松原いきたれど我身のうさに歎てぞふる
| keFu made Fa iki no matubara ikitaredo wa ga mi no usa ni nagekite zo Furu |
Up until today Among the pine groves of Iki Have I lived, yet In my desolation Am I drowned in grief. |
The Daughter of Fujiwara no Nochiō
藤原後生女
Topic unknown.
鷂のと帰る山の椎柴の葉がへはすとも君はかへせじ
| hashitaka no tokaeru yama no shiishiba no hagae wa su tomo kimi wa kaeseji |
Sparrowhawks Fly back and forth on the moutain where The brushwood Changes its leaves, yet You will ever be true. |
Anonymous
When he had gone to Saga to dig up plants for his garden.
日暮しに見れ共あかぬ女郎花のべにや今宵旅ねしなまし
| higurasi ni miredomo akanu wominaFesi nobe ni ya koyoFi tabinesinamasi |
At the sunset I see, yet cannot get my fill Of maidenflowers, so In the fields tonight Should I make a traveller’s bed? |
Fujiwara no Nagayoshi
藤原長能
Sent to a woman.
よそにても有りにしものを花すすきほのかに見てそ人は恋しき
| yoso nite mo arinisi mono wo Fanasusuki Fonoka ni mite zo Fito Fa koFisiki |
At a distance It was, yet A blossom on the silver grass Seen but briefly makes You so dear to me. |
Anonymous