On waiting for love through the years, when folk had composed poetry.[i]
故郷のあさぢが露にむすぼほれひとりなく虫の人をうらむる
| furusato no asaji ga tsuyu ni musubōre hitori naku mushi no hito o uramuru | At this ancient estate The cogon grass by dew Is held fast, as All alone a single insect cries, Hating that man… |
513
Orange blossom at an ancient estate.
いにしへをしのぶとなしにふる里のゆふべの雨ににほふたち花
| inishie o shinobu to nashi ni furusato no yūbe no ame ni niou tachibana | Bygone days I do not recall, but At an ancient estate In the evening rain Comes the scent of orange blossom.[i] |
[i] This poem functions as a reply to: Topic unknown. さつきまつ花橘のかをかげば昔の人の袖のかぞする satsuki matsu / hana tachibana no / ka o kageba / mukashi no hito no / sode no ka zo suru ‘Awaiting the Fifth Month / The orange blossoms’ / Scent fills the air, and / Folk from long ago / With their perfumed sleeves come back to me.’ Anonymous (KKS III: 139).
On a folding screen for the Kamo Virgin, for the place showing people going along a mountain path.
ちりちらずきかまほしきをふるさとの花見て帰る人もあはなん
| tiritirazu kikamaFosiki wo Furusato no Fana mitekaFeru Fito mo aFanan | Are they scattered, or not, is What I would ask, but The ancient estate’s Blossom having seen and returned– Those folk I would have you meet. |
Ise
Plum blossom at an ancient estate.
たれにかもむかしをとはむ故郷の軒ばの梅は春をこそしれ
| tare ni kamo mukashi o towamu furusato no nokiba no ume wa haru o koso shire | Who is it that Of days long gone I might enquire? At this ancient estate The plum beneath the eaves Knows spring well, yet… |
Plum blossom at an ancient estate.
ふる郷にたれしのべとか梅のはなむかしわすれぬかににほふらん
| furusato ni tare shinobedo ka ume no hana mukashi wasurenu ka ni niouran | At this ancient estate Who is it I recall? The plum blossom Unforgettable days gone by With fragrance seems to bring to life. |
Left (Tie)
ふるさとにかすみとびわけゆくかりはたびのそらにやはるをすぐらむ
| furusato ni kasumi tobiwake yuku kari wa tabi no sora ni ya haru o suguramu | Above an ancient estate Flying through the parting haze Go the geese: In the skies they journey through, I wonder, will they pass the springtime? |
Mitsune
19
Right
ちるはなをぬきしとめねばあをやぎのいとはよるともかひやなからむ
| chiru hana o nukishi tomeneba aoyagi no ito wa yoru tomo kai ya nakaramu | The scattered blossom Has been pierced, but not stayed, so, The green willow’s Threaded fronds are spun together, yet It useless seems… |
20
‘“Sewn but not halted”—it really does seem so.’
