On the conception of forgotten love.
袖の露もあらぬ色にぞ消えかへるうつればかはるなげきせしまに
| sode no tsuyu mo aranu iro ni zo kiekaeru utsureba kawaru nagekiseshi ma ni | The dewdrops on my sleeves now Lack any hue at all Fading once more, Revealing the change To my lengthy sorrow…[1] |
The Senior Retired Emperor
[1] An allusive variation on: KKS II: 113; and Genji monogatari 463.
From the Minase Poetry Match of Fifty Love Poems.
物おもはでただ大かたの露にだにぬるればぬるる秋のたもとを
| mono’omowade tada ōkata no tsuyu ni dani nurureba nururu aki no tamoto o | Not from gloomy thought, but Just by countless Dewdrops Dampened and then drenched are My sleeves in autumn…[1] |
Lord Ari’ie
[1] An allusive variation on SZS IV: 267.
Topic unknown.
きえぬべき露のうき身の置所いづれの野べの草葉なるらん
| kienubeki tsuyu no ukimi no okidokoro izure no nobe no kusaba naruran | Surely to vanish As the dewdrops is my pitiful lot, and The place I fall Will be in some meadow Among the blades of grass, no doubt… |
Inpumon’in no Taiyu
Composed when he had been gazing at the unclouded moon until dawn, on the night of the 15th of the Ninth Month.
秋はつるさ夜ふけがたの月みれば袖ものこらず露ぞおきける
| aki hatsuru sayo fukegata no tsuki mireba sode mo nokorazu tsuyu zo okikeru | At the start of autumn As brief night begins to break As I gaze upon the moon Not a spot upon my sleeves I Is left untouched by dewdrops. |
Lord Michinobu
Composed when the Naka Chancellor [Fujiwara no Michitaka] returned from another woman’s residence with the dawn, but rather than coming in, remained outside and went back to his own house.
暁のつゆはまくらにおきけるを草葉のうへとなにおもひけん
| akatuki no tuyu Fa makura ni okikeru wo kusaba no uFe to nani omoFiken | At the dawning Dewdrops upon my pillow Have fallen, but Resting atop a blade of grass— Is that what you think of me? [1] |
The Kō Handmaid
[1] An allusive variation on Izumi shikibu-shū 304/Mandaishū XVIII: 3559.
When he was thinking of days long gone, after he had grown old.
あけくれは昔をのみぞしのぶ草葉末の露に袖ぬらしつつ
| akekure wa mukashi o nomi zo shinobugusa hazue no tsuyu ni sode nurashitsutsu | Day and night Times long gone simply Remembrance fern Frond tips’ dewdrops Ever drench my sleeves. |
Hōribe no Narinaka
On the conception of fulling cloth.
ちたびうつきぬたの音にゆめさめて物おもふ袖に露ぞくだくる
| chitabi utsu kinuta no oto ni yume samete mono’omou sode ni tsuyu zo kudakuru | A thousand times striking The fulling block—the sound Wakes me from my dreams In gloomy thought, while upon my sleeves Dewdrops are scattered, indeed! |
Princess Shokushi
When, due to a confidential matter, he became unable to meet with a woman he had finally become able to see, he sent this.
あふさかの木のした露にぬれしよりわが衣手はいつもかわかず
| aFusaka no ko no sitaduyu ni nuresi yori wa ga koromode Fa itumo kawakazu | Meeting Hill’s Trees drip dewdrops and Have soaked me, so My sleeves Never will be dry. |
Lord Kanesuke
On lightning.
いなづまのしばしもとめぬひかりにも草葉のつゆのかずはみえけり
| inazuma no shibashi mo tomenu hikari ni mo kusaba no tsuyu no kazu wa miekeri | The lightning Fails to linger for even a moment, yet In its flash of light Upon every blade of grass Appear numerous dewdrops. |
Lord Fujiwara no Tamehide
