During the second year of Hōen (1136) there was an imperial excursion to the Hōkinkō In and he composed this on the spirit of ‘chrysanthemums’ many autumn vows’.
君が代を長月にしも菊の花咲くや千歳のしるしなるらむ
| kimi ga yo wo nagatuki ni simo kiku no Fana saku ya titose no sirusi naruramu |
My Lord’s reign: In the Ninth-longest-month Chrysanthemum flowers Bloom-of a thousand years Will they be a sign, perhaps. |
The Hōshō-ji Lay Priest and Former Grand Minister [Fujiwara no Tadamichi]
藤原忠通
Sent to someone who was late returning after going somewhere he had heard the chrysanthemums were particularly splendid.
きくにだに心はうつる花の色を見にゆく人はかへりしもせじ
| kiku ni dani kokoro Fa uturu Fana no iro wo mi ni yuku Fito Fa kaFeri si mo sezi |
Just the word of chrysanthemums Moves your heart-fading Flowers’ hues Folk go to see, yet They make not such a homecoming |
Akazome Emon
赤染衛門
When she lived next door to Fujiwara no Masatada, on the Eighth day of the Ninth Month, she covered the chrysanthemum’s in her garden with cotton; the following day she plucked one and sent it to him.
數知らず君が齡を延ばへつつ名だたる宿の露となら南
| kazu sirazu kimi ga yoFaFi wo nobaFetutu nadataru yado no tuyu to naranan |
Countless, My Lord, are the years That stretch before you; In such an illustrious house, A dewdrop is what I would be. |
Ise
伊勢
A poem composed at a competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress during the Kampyō era (889-898).
わが宿の菊のかきねにをく霜のきえかへりてぞ戀しかりける
| wa ga yado no kiku no kakine ni woku simo no kiekaFerite zo koFisikarikeru |
At my house On chrysanthemums by the fence The frost settles only to Vanish and return again; Even so is my love. |
Ki no Tomonori
紀友則
Topic unknown.
をとにのみきくの白露よるはおきてひるは思ひにあへずけぬべし
| woto ni nomi kiku no siratuyu yoru Fa okite Firu Fa omoFi ni aFezu kenubesi |
Only a rumour do I Hear: the chrysanthemum’s white dewdrops, Fall at night (I lie awake), And with the day’s weight of sun (laden with thoughts of you am I), Cannot endure and is gone (as will I be, lest we meet). |
The Monk Sosei
素性法師
When chrysanthemums were called for at the Ninna-ji, with a command that a poem be attached to them, he composed this and presented it.
秋をおきて時こそ有けれ菊の花うつろふからに色のまされば
| aki wo okite toki koso arikere kiku no Fana uturoFu kara ni iro no masareba |
Quite apart from Autumn, There is another season for Chrysanthemum blooms For as they fade, The colours become finer still. |
Taira no Sadafun
平定文
A poem from the poetry competition at Prince Koresada’s house.
色かはる秋のきくをば一年にふたゝびにほふ花とこそ見れ
| iro kaFaru aki no kiku wo ba Fito tose ni futatabi niFoFu Fana to koso mire |
With their changing hues, Autumn chrysanthemums have Within a single year Two shining moments In full bloom, or so it seems to me. |
Anonymous