In the second year of Ōwa [962], he became a Chamberlain to the Crown Prince, and then within a month was also appointed a Secretary in the Ministry of Popular Affairs, so he sent this poem to the residence of Palace Lady Ukon, to express his pleasure at being doubly blessed.
ひく人もなしと思ひしあづさゆみ今ぞうれしきもろやしつれば
Fiku Fito mo nasi to omoFisi adusayumi ima zo uresiki moroya situreba No one there was to draw I thought, A catalpa bow, but Now what joy When a pair of arrows fly!
Shitagō
On thinking deep thoughts.
梓弓末はし知らずしかれどもまさかは君に寄りにしものを
adusayumi suwe pasi sirazu sikaredomo masaka pa kimi ni yorinisi mono wo A catalpa bow: The end, indeed, I know not, And yet, and yet, ‘Tis you that My thoughts have ever dwelt upon…
Anonymous
New Year Archery
あづさ弓はるの日ぐらしもろ人のよに入るまでもあそびつるかな
azusayumi haru no higurashi morobito no yo ni iru made mo asobitsuru kana Catalpa bows At sundown in springtime Many folk, ‘Til night covers all, will Disport themselves!
Daishin
New Year Archery
霞しくはるのはじめのあづさ弓もろやしつるぞうれしかりける
kasumishiku haru no hajime no azusayumi moroya shitsuru zo ureshikarikeru Hazy Spring starts with Catalpa bows; Pairing up my arrows, How happy I am!
Higo
New Year Archery
あづさ弓ひくひくたれもいのるらんかたわくけふのくものうへ人
azusayumi hikuhiku taremo inoruran katawaku kyō no kumo no uebito A catalpa bow Drawing and drawing, someone Is surely praying; Divided into teams today are The folk above the clouds.
Kanemasa
New Year Archery
九重のうちにいるてふあづさ弓はるかに雲のほかにきくかな
kokonoe no uchi ni iru chō azusayumi haruka ni kumo no hoka ni kiku kana Within the ninefold Palace walls we are today; Catalpa bows – Other than the distant clouds Who might hear them!
Tadafusa
Spring Dawn
あづさ弓はるかにみれば山のはによこ雲わたるあけぼののそら
azusayumi haruka ni mireba yama no ha ni yokogumo wataru akebono no sora A catalpa bow Seen in the distance: Across the mountains’ edge Trail streaks of cloud in The sky at dawn.
Higo
Early Evening (晩立)
夕立はきりにきるともあづさ弓いにいてさへばくれずも有るかな
yūdachi wa kiri ni kirutomo azusayumi ini’ide saeba kurezu mo aru kana Evening showers Clad in mist, yet When a catalpa bow Emerges to interfere There is no dusk, at all.
Toshiyori
'Simply moving and elegant'