Katsura 桂
神山のかつらを折るは月のうちに我がおもふことならざらめやは
kamiyama no
katsura o oru wa
tsuki no uchi ni
wa ga omou koto
narazarame ya wa | On a mountain where deities dwell,
I break a katsura branch – though
Upon the moon
The object of my thoughts
Does not seem to be? |
Higo
Composed for the chief priest at the same shrine, on praying to the deities for love.
天下る神の印のありなしをつれなき人の行方にてみん
ama kudaru
kami no shirushi no
arinashi o
tsurenaki hito no
yukue nite min |
Descending from heaven
Deities, a sign
Provide me and
That heartless girl’s
Location reveal! |
Saigyō
西行
'Simply moving and elegant'