散りにける竜田の川の葉紅葉はかき集むれど甲斐なかりけり
chirinikeru
tatsuta no kawa no
momijiba wa
kakiatsumuredo
kainakarikeri |
Scattered,
Upon the Tatsuta River,
Scarlet autumn leaves
I sweep together, yet
Purpose serves it none… |
うしとだにいふもさらなりいざさらばいざやいかなる我が身なるらむ
ushi to dani
iu mo sara nari
iza saraba
iza ya ikanaru
wa ga mi naruramu |
That I am cruel
You would say, of course!
So, then, so be it!
What, then, indeed,
Will become of one such as I? |
'Simply moving and elegant'