On the 13th night of the Ninth Month.
今宵はと心え顔に澄む月の光もてなす菊の白露
koyoi wa to
kokoro egao ni
sumu tsuki no
hikari motenasu
kiku no shiratsuyu |
“Tonight is it!”
Knowingly
The limpid moon’s
Light garlands
Silver dewfall on the chrysanthemums. |
Saigyō
西行
When he was composing a large number of poems about the moon.
なかなかにときどき雲のかかるこそ月をもてなす飾りなりけれ
nakanaka ni
tokidoki kumo no
kakaru koso
tsuki o motenasu
kazari narikere |
Truly
On occasion the clouds
Do drape
In garlands on the moon
And do decorate it! |
Saigyō
西行
Said to be composed at Ryūmon.
瀬を早み宮滝川を渡り行けば心の底の澄む心地する
se o hayami
miyatakegawa o
watari yukeba
kokoro no soko no
sumu kokochi suru |
The rapids run so fast
On the River Miyatake, that
Crossing it,
To my heart’s depths
Brings a feeling of freshness. |
Saigyō
西行
[One of] Ten poems lamenting his circumstances.
いざさらば盛り思ふもほどもあらじ藐姑射が峯の花にむつれし
iza saraba
sakari omou mo
hodo mo araji
hakoya ga mine ni
hana ni mutsureshi |
So, then, so be it!
To reach full bloom, I feel,
Time I lack, but
Atop Hakoya peak
The flowers were dear to me, indeed… |
Saigyō
西行
Topic unknown.
むつのくの奥ゆかしくぞ思ほゆる壺の石文そとの浜風
mutunoku no
oku yukasiku zo
omoFoyuru
tubo no isibumi
soto no Famakaze |
Michinoku’s
Heart, I long
For in
Tsubo-no-ishibumi, where
The wind blows from off the beach. |
Saigyō
Composed on examining his own heart.
やみはれて心のそらにすむ月はにしの山べやちかくなるらん
yami harete
kokoro no sora ni
sumu tsuki wa
nishi no yamabe ya
chikaku naruran |
Darkness has lifted and
In the sky that is my heart
Dwells the moon–
To the western mountains’ edge
It does, perhaps, draw near. |
The Monk Saigyō
西行
His reply:
たちいらで雲まをわけし月かげはまたぬけしきやそらにみえけん
tachi irade
kumoma o wakeshi
tsuki kage wa
matanu keshiki ya
sora ni mieken |
Not entering in, but
Passing ‘tween the clouds,
The moonlight,
That you had failed to wait,
Saw from the skies, perhaps? |
The Monk Saigyō
西行
Composed on seeing the moon, when he had gone to Tsukiyomi Shrine in Ise on a pilgrimage.
さやかなるわしのたかねの雲井よりかげやはらぐる月よみのもり
sayakanaru
washi no takane no
kumoi yori
kage yawaraguru
tsukiyomi no mori |
How clear,
From the eagles’ lofty peak
Through the clouds
A gentle light upon
The forest of Tsukiyomi. |
The Monk Saigyō
西行
Topic unknown.
神ぢ山月さやかなるちかひありてあめのしたをばてらすなりけり
kamiji yama
tsuki sayakanaru
chikai arite
ame no shita wo ba
terasu narikeri |
Above sacred Kamiji Mountain
The moon is clear;
He made a vow
Upon all under heaven
To shine. |
The Monk Saigyō
西行
Topic unknown.
宮ばしらしたついはねにしきたてゝつゆもくもらぬ日のみかげ哉
miyabashira
shita tsu iwane ni
shikitatete
tsuyu mo kumoranu
hi no mikage kana |
The shrine pillars
On great rocks beneath
Stand firm;
And not a trace of cloud
Mars the sunlight. |
The Monk Saigyō
西行
'Simply moving and elegant'