On scarlet ivy, clinging to a pine tree overlooking the ocean.
紅葉する蔦しかかればおのづから松もあたなる名ぞ立ちぬべき
| momidisuru tuta sika kareba onodukara matu mo adanaru na zo tatinubeki |
Turning scarlet, The ivy does entangle it, so That it’s done it by itself, Will the pine a certain Reputation achieve! |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
After Prince Tametaka, Commissioner of the Board of Censors, had died, Prince Atsumichi, Governor-General of Dazai, sent her some orange blossom, and so she sent him this, wondering how she should view the gift:
かをる香によそふるよりは時鳥来かばやおなじ声やしたると
| kaworu ka ni yosoFuru yori Fa Fototogisu kikaba ya onazi kowe ya sitaru to | Scenting their fragrance In place of his – rather The cuckoo I would hear, wondering if his call Is just the same… |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
When the house of Bishop Mokuban burnt down, I sent a message, with this, to his mother.
出でにける門のほかをし知らぬ身は問ふべき程もさたすきにけり
| idenikeru kado no Foka wo si siranu mi Fa toFubeki Fodo mo sada suginikeri |
Departed Through that other gate have you, while In ignorance, I, When I should have known, Have passed my time. |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
Topic unknown.
けふもまたかくや伊吹のさしも草さらばわれのみ燃えやわたらん
| kyō mo mata kaku ya ibuki no sashimogusa saraba ware nomi moe ya wataran |
Today, once more, Will you be so cruel? One of Mount Ibuki’s Plants aflame I am not, yet is it I alone Who yet burns with passion? |
Izumi Shikibu
Topic Unknown.
潮のまによもの浦々尋ぬれどいまはわが身のいふかひもなし
| siFo no ma ni yomo no uraura tadunuredo ima Fa wagami no iFukaFi mo nasi |
Within the tide-space All along the beaches Do I seek, yet No, it does Avail me not. |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
On a night when the moon was shining brightly, someone captured some fireflies and sent them to her; she replied to say that ‘the rain was falling’.
おもひあらばこよひのそらはとひてまし見えしや月のひかりなりけん
| omoi araba koyoi no sora wa toitemashi mieshi ya tsuki no hikari nariken |
Had you a thought for me, This evening to the sky I would that your enquiries had flown; Perhaps, what I have seen is but the moon Light? |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部