A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the Kanpyō period.

梅が香を袖にうつしてとどめてば春は過ぐとも形見ならまし

mume ga ka wo sode ni utusite todometeba Faru Fa sugutomo katami naramasi

If only the plums’ scent Would shift to my sleeves and Stay there, then Even when spring is past and gone A keepsake would it be…

Anonymous