The man comes when it is drizzling and says he must approach and talk to her:
綿津海のそこに深くは入れずともしぐれにだにも濡らさざらなむ
| watatu umi no soko no Fukaku Fa irezu tomo sigure ni dani mo nurasazaranamu |
Though to the boundless main’s Deepest depths I may not enter, At least within the drizzle Do not let me be drenched! |
Her reply:
いづかたにありと聞かばか花すゝきはかなき空を招きたてらん
| idu kata ni ari to kikaba Fana susuki Fakanaki sora wo maneki tateran |
Which way were you To be found? Did they but know The stalks of miscanthus grass Would to the vacant sky Stand beckoning! |
When she has gone out flower-viewing in the autumn fields, a man:
秋の野にいでぬとならば花薄しのびにわれを招きやはせぬ
| aki no no ni idenu to naraba Fana susuki sinobi ni ware wo maneki ya Fa senu |
If to the autumn fields You have gone, As the stalks of miscanthus grass Secretly, to me Will you not beckon? |
At Tanabata:
朝まだき出でて引くらん今朝の緒に心ながさをくらべてしがな
| asa madaki idete Fikuran kesa no wo ni kokoro nagasi wo kurabetesi gana |
From early morn Have you been out, I’d say; To this morning’s cords Could the length of my heartstrings Be compared! |
Her reply:
なげきどをなべて祓ふる大幣ははや川の瀬に流れ出でぬめり
| nagekido wo nabete FaraFuru oFonusa Fa FayakaFa no se ni nagare idenumeri |
Your points of grief: All will be swept away by The Grand Staff: on Swift river rapids Will it flow away, I feel. |
A man comes and meets a lady at the Purification ceremonies in the Sixth Month:
年中に我なげきどのなりぬれば禊ぐとも世にうせじとぞ思
| tosi naka ni ware nagekido no narinureba misogu tomo yo ni usezi to zo omoFu |
In the middle of the year I many points of grief Do have; I may cleanse them, yet from the world They will not fade, I fear. |
The man comes and stands before the lady’s gate and, hearing a cuckoo call from amongst the orange blossom, composes this and sends it in:
外に立てるわれやかなしきほとゝぎす花橘の枝に居てなく
| to ni tateru ware ya kanasiki Fototogisu Fana tatibana no eda ni wite naku |
Standing without In sadness, am I; does The cuckoo On the orange blossomed Branch sit and sing for me? |
A man comes to a place where the wisteria blooms and catching sight of a lady, sends this in to her:
藤の花けふ見つるより紫も村濃と色ぞ深くなりぬる
| Fudi no Fana keFu mituru yori murasaki mo murago to iro zo Fukakunarinuru |
Of wisteria blooms I caught sight, today, and ever since As violet Of the deepest hue, my passion, Grows ever more profound! |