When a large number of people had gone to Daikakuji and were composing on the old waterfall.
たきの糸はたえてひさしく成りぬれど名こそ流れて猶きこえけれ
| taki no ito Fa taete Fisasiku narinuredo na koso nagarete naFo kikoekere | The cataract’s threads Snapped so long Ago, yet Its name flows on and Is yet heard. |
Kintō, Captain of the Outer Palace Guards, Right Division
Composed when he had gone to the Saga Daigakuji and was composing on a variety of topics.
たきのおとはたえて久しくなりぬれど名こそながれてなほきこえけれ
| taki no oto Fa taete Fisasiku narinuredo na koso nagarete naFo kikoekere | The cataract’s sound Faded so long Ago, yet Its name flows on and Is yet heard. |
Former Major Counsellor Kintō
For the place where Nunohiki Falls was painted, on a screen in the Saishō Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings.
久方のあまつをとめが夏衣雲井にさらすぬのびきのたき
| hisakata no ama tsu otome ga natsugoromo kumoi ni sarasu nunohiki no taki | Eternal Heavenly maidens Their summer garb Rinsing among the clouds— The cataract at Nunohiki |
Lord Ari’ie
Topic unknown.
せをはやみいはにせかるるたき河のわれてもすゑにあはんとぞ思ふ
| se wo Fayami iFa ni sekaruru takikawa no waretemo suwe ni awan to zo omoFu | The fast-running rapids By rocks are blocked— A cataract Shattered, yet at the end How I long to meet her! |
The recently Retired Emperor [Sutoku]
When I heard nothing more from a person who had vowed to go to see the scarlet leaves at Tonase with me.
うしろめたとくといそがで紅葉ばはとなせのたきのおちもこそすれ
| ushirometa tokuto isogade momijiba wa tonase no taki no ochi mo koso sure | How untrustworthy! You take care to make no haste, and The scarlet leaves At Tonase cataract, without a word Will surely fall! |
あふせをば流れてとこそたのめしかいかにとだにも音なしのたき
| ause oba nagarete to koso tanomeshi ka ika ni to dani mo otonashi no taki | Our meeting, like the rapids, Will flow on—can I Trust in that? However much they seem The silenced cataract of Otonashi… |
Lady Ki
39
すみわぶる名をながさじとつつむまにしばしよどむぞ音なしの滝
| sumiwaburu na no nagasaji to tsutsumu ma ni shibashi yodomu zo otonashi no taki | Living on in sorrow and Letting no word of it flow out— Thus wrapped up Briefly stilled has been The cataract of Otonashi. |
Supernumerary Minor Captain Morotoki
40
Left (Win)
主やたれ見ぬ世の色を写しをく筆のすさびにうかぶ面影
| nushi ya tare minu yo no iro o utsushioku fude no susabi ni ukabu omokage |
Who painted you? Unseen in this present world, hues, Reflected by A comforting brush, Bring her visage before me… |
Lord Sada’ie
1105
Right
水茎の跡に堰きをく瀧津瀬をまことに落とすわが涙かな
| mizukuki no ato ni sekioku taki tsu se o makoto ni otosu wa ga namida kana |
Faint brush-strokes Traces place a barrier, but A cataract in torrents Truly drops – My tears… |
Jakuren
1106
The Right state: the Left’s poem is rather casual about the person whom he loves. The Left state: the Right’s poem has no faults we can identify.
In judgement: the Gentlemen of the Right have stated that the Left seems somewhat blasé about the object of his affections, and this is certainly true. The Right’s poem, though, says that the poet is looking at a painting on something like a folding screen, where a waterfall is depicted, and he weeps in reality – this seems like he was simply moved by the painting. I feel that there is a stronger conception of love in seeing a painting and fondly recalling the face of one now long gone, than there is in being moved by the sight of a mountain stream.