When her grandchild passed away.
うきながらきえせぬ物は身なりけりうらやましきは水のあわかな
| ukinagara kiesenu mono Fa mi narikeri urayamasiki Fa midu no awa kana | How cruel it is that What remains here yet Is me— How I envy The foam upon the waters! |
Nakatsukasa
Sent when he saw the Tsutsumi Middle Counsellor Lady of the Bedchamber.[1]
あなこひしはつかに人をみづのあわのきえかへるともしらせてしかな
| ana koFisi Fatuka ni Fito wo midu no awa no kiekaFeru tomo sirasetesi kana | O, how strong my love! Faintly, a lady Did I see, who as foam upon the water Vanished once more, yet I had to let her know! |
The Ononomiya Palace Minister
[1] A reference to Fujiwara no Sōshi (Kuwako) 藤原桑子 (dates unknown), the daughter of Fujiwara no Kanesuke 藤原兼輔 (877-933), who was an Imperial Concubine to Emperor Daigo 醍醐 (885-930; r 897-930), and the mother of Imperial Prince Nori’akira 章明 (924-990).
Composed on seeing cherry blossom flowing along the stream in the grounds of the Palace of the Crown Prince.
枝よりもあだにちりにし花なればおちても水の泡とこそなれ
| eda yori mo ada ni tirinisi Fana nareba otitemo midu no awa to koso nare | From the branch Have simply scattered These blossoms, so they are Fallen, yet the waters’ Foam have they become. |
Sugano no Takayo
When Ki no Toshisada was sent to Awa as Vice-Governor, Narihira planned a farewell banquet for him. On the day he was due to depart, Toshisada kept rushing about here and there and, when he did not appear, even though it was late at night, Narihira sent this to him.
今ぞ知るくるしき物と人またむ里をば離れず訪ふべかりけり
| ima zo siru kurusiki mono to Fito matamu sato woba karezu toFubekarikeri |
Now I know well The pain of it; When someone awaits me At their home, I’ll not stay away But pay my call, as I should. |
Ariwara no Narihira
有原業平
