A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the Kanpyō period.
霞立春の山辺はとをけれど吹くる風は花の香ぞする
| kasumi tatu Faru no yamabe Fa towokeredo Fukikuru kaze Fa Fana no ka zo suru | Hazes rise Round the mountains’ sides, So far away, and yet The gusting breeze comes Bearing the scent of blossom. |
Ariwara no Motokata
Topic unknown.
便りにもあらぬ思ひのあやしきは心を人につくるなりけり
| tayori ni mo aranu omoFi no ayasiki Fa kokoro wo Fito ni tukuru narikeri |
Messengers They are not, my feelings, And yet, how strange: For my heart to her Has been delivered. |
Ariwara no Motokata
有原元方
Topic unknown.
立歸りあはれとぞ思ふよそにても人に心をおきつ白浪
| tatikaFeri aFare to zo omoFu yoso nite mo Fito ni kokoro wo okitu siranami |
Rising and returning, Filled with love, However distant You are, my heart Lifts with the whitecaps. |
Ariwara no Motokata
有原元方
Topic unknown.
音羽山音に聞きつつ逢の関のこなたに年を経るかな
| wotoFa yama woto ni kikitutu aFusaka no seki no konata ni tose wo Furu kana |
As wing-beats in the mountains Do I hear tell of you; But on Meeting Hill Barrier’s inner side Must I spend my days? |
Ariwara no Motokata
有原元方
Composed as an Autumn poem.
雨降れどつゆも漏らじをかさとりの山はいかでかもみぢそめけむ
| ame furedo tuyu mo morazi wo kasatori no yama Fa ikadeka momidi somekemu |
Though the rain does fall Not a single drop leaks through A rain-cap; So why, has Cap Mountain Started to stain with scarlet hues? |
Ariwara no Motokata
有原元方
Composed on the first goose.
まつ人にあらぬ物からはつかりのけさなくこゑのめづらしきかな
| matsu Fito ni aranu mono kara Fatukari no kesa naku kowe no medurasiki kana |
The one I’m waiting for, Indeed, came not, yet, The first goose Cry this morning: How precious it was! |
Ariwara no Motokata
有原元方
Composed on the moon.
秋の夜の月のひかりしあかければくらぶの山もこえぬべらなり
| aki no yo no tuki no Fikarisi akakereba kurabu no yama mo koenubera nari |
When on an autumn night, The moonlight Shines, Through even mountains of Darkness Can I make my way. |
Ariwara no Motokata
有原元方
Composed on a day when spring arrived in the old year.
年のうちに春は来にけりひととせをこぞとやいはむことしとやいはむ
| tosi no uti Faru Fa kinikeri Fitotose wo kozo to ya iFan kotosi to ya iFan |
Within the year Spring has come again; The one year: What should I say: that it’s last year, Or that it’s the year to come? |
Ariwara no Motokata