When Prince Katsura had said ‘Catch some fireflies,’ and one of the boys had them wrapped up in the sleeves of his jacket.
つつめどもかくれぬ物は夏虫の身よりあまれる思ひなりけり
| tutumedomo kakurenu mono Fa natumusi no mi yori amareru omoFinarikeri | Wrapped up, yet Unconcealable are The summer insects: Their bodies bringing an excess Of passion’s fires. |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
やへむぐらしげきやどには夏虫の声より外に問ふ人もなし
| yaFemugura sigeki yado ni Fa natumusi no kowe yori Foka ni toFu Fito mo nasi | The tangled, overlapping creepers A lush dwelling do make; The summer insects’ Songs apart No folk come to call. |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
夏虫の身をいたづらになすこともひとつ思ひによりてなりけり
| natumusi no mi wo itadura ni nasu koto mo Fitotu omoFi ni yorite narikeri | Just as the summer insects Heedlessly their bodies Treat, So I, in the flame of a single passion Do… |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
君やこむ我やゆかむのいさよひにまきのいたどもささずねにけり
| kimi ya komu ware ya yukamu no isayoFi ni maki no itado mo sasazu nenikeri | Will you come, or Should I go? Caught in hesitation, My door of cedar boards Unbarred, do I fall asleep. |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
かくしつつ世をやつくさむ高砂のをのへにたてる松ならなくに
| kakusitutu yo wo ya tukusamu takasago no wonoFe ni tateru matu naranaku ni | Thus, I wonder Will my life come to an end? For on Takasago’s Heights standing A pine tree I am not … |
Anonymous
When someone was holding a plant-matching contest, and plants like morning glories were being compared, and a mirror blossom lay near her.
まけがたの耻かしげなる朝顏を鏡草にも見せてける哉
| makegata no Fadukasigenaru asagaFo wo kagamigusa ni mo misetekeru kana |
The loser Seems so bashful: The morning glory To the mirror bloom Has displayed herself! |
Anonymous
When she was alone, an equiry arrived from someone as to how she was, so she attached this to a morning glory and sent it to him.
夕暮のさびしき物は朝顔の花を頼める宿にぞ有りける
| yuFugure no sabisiki mono Fa asagaFo no Fana wo tanomeru yado ni zo arikeru |
The evening is So lonely: A morning glory Bloom alone is trustworthy At my house! |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
都いでて今日みかの原泉河かは風さむし衣かぜ山
| miyako idete keFu mika no Fara idumigaFa kaFakaze samusi koromo kaseyama |
Departing the capital, Today on Mika meadow, From the River Izumi Chill is the wind, indeed, so Lend me your robe, O Kase Moutain! |
Anonymous
From the Empress’ Poetry Competition in the Engi Period.
夏くれば深草山の郭公鳴く声しげくなりまさるなり
| natu kureba Fukakusayama no Fototogisu naku kowe sigeku narimasaru nari |
When the summer comes, Upon Fukakusa Mountain The cuckoo Calls most lushly Do grow excessive! |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
飛ぶ鳥の声も聞えぬ奥山の深き心を人は知らなむ
| tobu tori no kowe mo kikoenu okuyama no Fukaki kokoro wo Fito Fa siranamu |
Flying birds’ Song does not reach The mountains’ heart; The depths of my love I would have you know! |
Anonymous