A poem sent in return by the Daughter of Saeki sukune Akamaro.
ちはやぶる神の社しなかりせば春日の野辺に粟蒔かましを
| tipayaburu kami no yasiro si nakariseba kasuga no nope ni apa makamasi wo | If the mighty Gods’ shrines Did not exist, then One the plains at Kasuga Would I sow foxtail millet. |
A poem composed by someone unknown.
梨棗黍に粟つぎ延ふ葛の後も逢はむと葵花咲く
| nasi natume kimi ni apatugi papu kudu no noti mo apamu to apupi pana saku | As for pear and jujube and Millet, too, do I long to meet you; As trailing kudzu parts and Meets again, so on The day we meet will hollyhocks bloom. |
Composed when deep in thought.
紅の八しほの衣朝な朝な馴れはすれどもいやめづらしも
| kurenawi no yasipo no koromo asana asana nare pa suredomo iya medurasi mo | In safflower Dipped many times, my robe Worn morn after morn Has familiar wrinkles, yet Is all the more dear for that… |
A poem on travel.
君がため浮沼の池の菱摘むと我が染めし袖濡れにけるかも
| kimi ga tame ukinu no ike no pisi tumu to wa ga somesi sode nurenikeru kamo | For you, my love, At Ukinu Pond Picking water chestnuts, These sleeves I’ve dyed Have become completely drenched! |
Kakinomoto no Hitomaro Collection
柿本人麻呂歌集
A poem composed when deep in melancholy thought.
打つ田には稗はしあまたありといへど選えし我れぞ夜をひとり寝る
| utu ta ni pa pie pa si amata ari to ipedo eraesi ware zo yo wo pitori nuru | Out in the paddies Barnyard millet is there plenty They do say, yet I, singled out for dessertion Do spend my nights sleeping alone. |
ひさかたの雨も降らぬか蓮葉に溜まれる水の玉に似たる見む
| hisakata no ame mo puranu ka patisuba ni tamareru midu no tama ni nitaru mimu | Is it that from the eternal Heavens, rain has long not fallen, That on the lotus leaves Water rests and Seems all the more like gemstones? |
A poem on a pine tree in Shigeoka in Atomi, by Ki no Shikahito
茂岡に神さび立ちて栄えたる千代松の木の年の知らなく
| sigewoka ni kamusabi tatite sakaetaru tiyo matu no ki no tosi no siranaku | In Shigeoka Divinely stands Flourishing A pine for a thousand generations All unknowing of the passing years. |
Ki no Shikahito
紀鹿人
On the 13th day of First Month Tenpyō 2, there was a gathering at the residence of the Governor General for a banquet. That year the month was truly a perfect example of early spring, with a sublime atmosphere and gentle breezes. The plum blossom bloomed with the whiteness of the powder one applies before a mirror; the orchids gave off a scent like that trailed behind one from a perfumed sachet. Moreover, in the morning the clouds moved across the peaks, and capped the pine trees with a silken gauze. Then with the evening mists rose from the mountain caverns, and birds, lost in the silken folds, flew in confusion through the woods. In the garden, new-born butterflies danced, while in the skies, geese flew homeward. Thus, with the heavens to cover us, and the land spread out before, we sat with knees close together and the wine-cups flew back and forth. All of us together quite forgot our words, and allowed our hearts to fly free in the beautiful scene. Truly, there is no way to measure the emotions of the time, so filled with pleasure were we. Were it not for poetry, how could we record our feelings? In the poetry of Cathay, there are volumes on the fallen blossoms, but what difference is there between those ancient compositions and those of the present? And so, and so, shall we not compose short poems on this garden of blossoming plum?
正月立ち春の来たらばかくしこそ梅を招きつつ楽しき終へめ
| mutuki tati paru no kitaraba kaku shi koso mume wo manekitutu tanosiki opeme | The First Month appears and With the coming of spring Thus Beckoned by plum blossom Will we exhaust ourselves with joy! |
Senior Assistant Governor General, Lord Ki
小筑波の茂き木の間よ立つ鳥の目ゆか汝を見むさ寝ざらなくに
| otukuba no sigeki ko no ma yo tatu tori no me yuka na o mimu sanezaranakuni | At Tsukuba Between the lushly growing trees, As a darting bird Did I catch a glimpse of you? Though ‘tis not that you were not asleep… |
Anonymous
Composed on Love after Parting during the reign of Former Emperor Nijō (1143-1165; r. 1158-1165).
水無瀬川流れてとこそ思ひしかこはいかにしてたえはじめけむ
| minasegawa nagarete to koso omoishi ka ko wa ika ni shite taehajimekemu | The River Minase Rapidly runs – did I think that once? Now what am I to do That our parting has begun? |
Minister of Justice [Fujiwara no] Norikane
刑部卿範兼