In Spring, His Majesty, the Priestly Retired Emperor [Uda] was at Hanayama; when he was about to return home:
待てと言はばいともかしこし花山にしばしと鳴かん鳥の音も哉
| mate to iFaba ito mo kasikosi Fanayama ni sibasi to nakan tori no ne mo gana |
Should I say to wait, It would be impertinent; In Hanayama ‘ Linger but a while,’ call The birds-or I wish they did. |
Archbishop Henjō
僧正遍照
When he was sent into exile, he gazed at the plum blossom at his house.
東風吹かばにほひをこせよ梅花主なしとて春を忘るな
| koti fukaba niFoFi wokoseyo mume no Fana aruzi nasi tote Faru wo wasuru na |
Should the east winds blow, Carry me the fragrance Of plum blossom; And though your lord is gone, Never forget the springtime. |
The Posthumous Grand Minister [Sugawara no Michizane]
菅原道真
His Majesty had something made in the shape of Mt Fuji, and sent it with this poem to the Lady of the Wisteria Pavilion.
世の人の及ばぬ物は富士の嶺の雲居に高き思ひなりけり
| yo no Fito no woyobanu mono Fa Fuzi no ne no kumowi ni takaki omoFinarikeri |
A man of the mundane world Can never reach so far: Around the peak of Fuji The clouds rise higher As does my passion for you. |
The Tenryaku Emperor [Emperor Murakami]
For a woman he had been visiting for many years; when snow was falling:
三吉野の雪にこもれる山人もふる道とめて音をや泣くらん
| miyosino no yuki ni komoreru yamabito mo Furu miti tomete ne wo ya nakuran |
In fair Yoshino Sealed in by snow, A mountain man: Searching out paths past, I wonder does he, too, weep aloud? |
Minamoto no Kage’akira
During the Tenryaku period, His Majesty sent this poem to the Hirohata Miyasudokoro when she had not visited him for some considerable time.
山がつの垣ほに生ふる撫子に思よそへぬ時の閒ぞなき
| yama gatu no kakiFo ni oFuru nadesiko ni omoFi yosoFenu toki no ma zo naki |
The mountain folk Have growing in their fence Some pinks-sweet thing My thoughts dwell on you With no space in-between. |
Emperor Murakami (926-967; r. 946-967)
When he had just started talking with a woman, difficulties arose and he became unable to visit her; so, he sent this poem.
かゝらでも有にし物を白雪の一日もふればまさる我が戀
| kakarade mo ari ni si mono wo sirayuki no Fito Fi mo Fureba masaru wa ga koFi |
If it be so, Then so be it, I thought once, but As white snow falling, With the passing day My yearning grows ever stronger. |
Ariwara no Narihira
有原業平