Composed while talking to someone whom he had known once long ago, met in an autumn field.
秋はぎのふるえにさける花見れば本の心はわすれざりけり
| aki Fagi no Furueni sakeru Fana mireba moto no kokoro Fa wasurezarikeri |
Bush clover in Autumn: A old branch putting forth Flowers. At the sight All the old feelings Are impossible to forget. |
Mitsune
躬恒
Composed on hearing the cries of the geese.
うき事を思ひつらねてかりがねのなきこそわたれ秋のよなよな
| uki koto wo omoFituranete kari ga ne no naki koso watare aki no yonayona |
Downcast thoughts Flow on and on, and The goose calls Crying, drifting across, Autumn night after night. |
Ōshikōchi no Mitsune (Fl. 898-922)
凡河内躬恒
Composed on an occasion when people were gathered in the Thunder Court and composing poems in praise of autumn nights.
かくばかりをしと思ふ夜をいたづらにねてあかすらむ人さへぞうき
| kaku bakari osi to omoFu yo wo itadurani nede akasuran Fito saFe zo uki |
On such a Wonderful night, Spent idly Sleepless, the dawn Pains one all the more. |
Ōshikōchi no Mitsune (Fl. 898-922)
凡河内躬恒
Composed on the final day of the Waterless Month.
夏と秋と行きかふそらのかよひぢはかたへすずしき風やふくらむ
| natu to aki yukikaFu sora no kayoFidi Fa kataFe suzusiki kaze ya Fukuramu |
As Summer and Autumn Pass each other on the sky’s Byways, From one side does a cool Breeze blow, I wonder? |
Mitsune
躬恒
When a servant was sent over from the neighbouring house with a request for some flowering pinks, he was reluctant, composing this poem sent it back.
ちりをだにすゑじとぞ思ふさきしよりいもとわがぬるとこ夏のはな
| tiri wo dani suwezi to zo omoFu sakisi yori imo to wa ga nuru tokonatu no Fana |
Not even dust May touch them, I feel, Since they’ve bloomed, Where my love and I bed down On pink coverlets of flowers. |
Mitsune
躬恒
Composed when some courtiers, drinking wine the Attendance Chamber, called him in and told him to compose a poem on ‘waiting for the cuckoo.’
ほととぎすこゑもきこえず山びこはほかになくねをこたへやはせぬ
| Fototogisu kowe mo kikoezu yamabiko Fa Foka ni naku ne wo kotaFe ya Fa senu |
The cuckoo’s Call is silent- But an echo Of a song sung elsewhere, Might not that return to us? |
Mitsune
躬恒
A poem on the end of spring from a poetry contest held by Retired Emperor Uda.
けふのみと春をおもはぬ時だにも立つことやすき花のかげかは
| keFu nomi to Faru wo omoFanu toki dani mo tatu koto yasuki Fana no kage ka Fa |
“Only today is left Of spring” goes unthought- Even at such a time, Is it easy to part from The blossoms’ shade? |
Ōshikōchi no Mitsune
凡河内躬恒
Composed when he saw women returning from picking flowers on a day at the end of the Third Month.
とどむべき物とはなしにはかなくもちる花ごとにたぐふこころか
| todomubeki mono to Fa nasi ni Fakanaku mo tiru Fana goto ni taguFu kokoro ka |
That would halt them There is nothing, yet How hopelessly To every scattered flower My heart is drawn. |
Ōshikōchi no Mitsune
凡河内躬恒