Category Archives: Personal Collections

Akishino gesseishū III: 1304

Winter moonlight at a mountain retreat.

やまおろしのけしきばかりやふゆならむみやこなりせば秋のよの月

yama’oroshi no
keshiki bakari ya
fuyu naramu
miyako nariseba
aki no yo no tsuki
The wind howling down the mountain
Simply sets a scene of
Seeming winter, but
Were I in the capital,
An autumn night’s moon, would this be…

Ise-shū 358

My reply:

君にとし思ひかくれば鶯のはなのくしげもをしまざりけり

kimi ni to si
omoFikakureba
uguFisu no
hana no kusige mo
wosimazarikeri
For my Lady did
I fondly think, so
The warbler’s
Comb of blossom
I do not regret at all…

Ise

Ise-shū 357

When the Crown Prince Lady of the Bedchamber held a box match, and I said I would place some budding scarlet plum in my box, Her Majesty, Empress Dowager stated:

みづのえのかたみとおもへどうぐひすの花のくしげはあけてだにみず

midu no e no
katami to omoFedo
uguFisu no
Fana no kusige Fa
akete dani mizu
By the waters’ edge
A keepsake, I thought this was, yet
The warbler’s
Comb of blossom on
Opening, I see not within…