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… |
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
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… |
Composed on the conception of Lingering Cold.
衣手のうすきや冬のせきならんわが身はいとどしみこほりつつ
| koromode no usuki ya fuyu no seki naran wa ga mi wa itodo shimikōritsutsu | Do my sleeves, So scanty, winter’s Barrier gate mark? My flesh is still so Pierced with icy chills! |
New Year’s Eve.
よしの川ながれて過ぐる年浪の立ゐのかげもくれにけるかな
| yoshino gawa nagarete suguru toshinami no tachi’i no kage mo kurenikeru kana | The River Yoshino Flows on past while The year’s waves Rise and fall Fading into shadow! |
Ōe no Masafusa
On the sound of a flute under the moon.
月かげにこちくの声ぞ聞ゆなるふりにしいもは待ちやかぬらん
| tsuki kage ni kochiku no koe zo kikoyu naru furinishi imo wa machi ya kanuran | In the moonlight A flute’s notes Do sound— My dear old girl: Does she find it hard to wait, I wonder? |
あしひきの山遠き月を空におきて月影高き末の架け橋
| ashihiki no yama tōki tsuki o sora ni okite tsukikage takaki sue no kakehashi | Leg-wearying, Above the distant mountains, the moon Hangs in the sky; Soaring moonbeams A bridge between the peaks. |
Shōhaku 肖柏 (1443-1527)
あしひきの山下とよみ行く水の時ぞともなく恋ひわたるかも
| ashihiki no yamashita toyomi yuku mizu no toki zo tomokaku koiwataru kamo | Leg-wearying, The mountain’s foot resounds with Rushing waters Endlessly – As flows my love for you! |
Love and Trees.
いかなれば朽ちぬる袖ぞ波かかる岩根の松もさてこそはあれ
| ika nareba kuchinuru sode zo nami kakaru iwane no matsu mo sate koso wa are | For some reason My sleeves have rotted, Washed by waves As pines rooted on the rocks – That is how they are… |
Matsuyoi no kojijū
待宵の小侍従
Love and Grasses.
我が恋は隠れぬにおふる草なれや思ふ心を知る人のなき
| wa ga koi wa kakurenu ni ouru kusa nare ya omou kokoro o shiru hito no naki | Can my love Lie hidden in the growing Grasses? For the feelings in my heart Are known to no one at all… |
Fujiwara no Tadamichi