On frogs.
上つ瀬にかはづ妻呼ぶ夕されば衣手寒み妻まかむとか
kami tu se ni
kapadu tuma yobu
yupusareba
koromode samumi
tuma makamu to ka |
In the rapids upstream
A frog cries for a mate,
When the evening comes,
How chill the sleeves –
Maybe he would be with her swiftly! |
Anonymous
As a way of saying, ‘Let’s start talking,’ to a lady.
隠沼に忍ひわびぬるわか身かな井手の蛙と成りやしなまし
kakurenu ni
sinobiwabinuru
wa ga mi kana
wide no kaFadu to
nari ya si namasi |
Hidden in the marsh
Grieving alone
Am I;
As a frog in Idé
Am I to be? |
Fujiwara no Tadafusa (?-928)
藤原忠房
On the misty moon.
おぼろ月蛙に濁る水や空
oborozuki
kawazu ni nigoru
mizu ya sora |
Under the misty moon
A frog clouds
Water and sky together. |
'Simply moving and elegant'