From the shore at Fukehi in Izumi.
けふけふと霜おきまさる冬立たば花移ろふとうらみにゆかむ
keFu keFu to
simo okimasaru
Fuyu tataba
Fana uturoFu to
urami ni yukamu |
On this day, this day
Of most heavy fallen frost
Should winter arrive,
That the flowers fade
Will be a source of my despite… |
7
A chrysanthemum from Murasakino.
名にしおへば花さへ匂ふ紫の一本菊における初霜
na nisi oFeba
Fana saFe nioFu
murasaki no
Fitomoto kiku ni
okeru Fatusimo |
Bearing such a name
This bloom is certain to scent:
Upon a violet
Single chrysanthemum
The first frost has fallen. |
3
A poem by Imube no obito Kuromaro
秋田刈る刈廬もいまだ壊たねば雁が音寒し霜も置きぬがに
akita karu
kari ipo mo imada
kopotaneba
kari ga ne samusi
simo mo okinu gani |
Reaping autumn fields
My temporary harvest-hut is yet
To fall, but
The goose calls are so chill that
Frost seems sure to fall… |
Imube no Kuromaro
忌部黒麿
Sad thoughts.
夕凝りの霜置きにけり朝戸出にいたくし踏みて人に知らゆな
yupu kori no
simo okinikeri
asa tode ni
itakusi pumite
pito ni sirayuna |
With the evening chill
Frost has fallen;
In the morning, opening the door
Tread lightly, so
No one will know… |
君恋ふと霜と我が身のなりぬれは袖の雫ぞ冴えまさりける
kimi koFu to
simo to wa ga mi no
narinureba
sode no siduku zo
saFe masarikeru |
I love you, so
As frost have I
Become, so
The droplets on my sleeves
Are most exceeding chill… |
置く霜に生ひたる葦の枯れ伏して菅田の池にあらはれにけり
okushimo ni
oitaru ashi no
karefushite
sugata no ike ni
arawarenikeri |
With the frost fall
The shapes of grown reeds
Withering down
At Sugata Pond
Have appeared! |
Minamoto no Morotoki
源師時
Left.
あらはるる三世の仏の名を聞くにつもれる罪は霜と消えなむ
arawaruru
miyo no hotoke no
na o kiku ni
tsumoreru tsumi wa
shimo to kienamu |
The manifest
Three worlds’ Buddhas’
Names I hear, and
My accumulated sins seem to
Vanish with the frost. |
Misaku 美作
17
Right.
頼みみる三世の仏の名を聞けばつもれる罪もあらじとぞ思ふ
tanomi miru
miyo no hotoke no
na o kikeba
tsumoreru tsumi mo
araji to zo omou |
Hearing our pleas
The three worlds’ Buddhas’
Names I hear, and
Even my accumulated sins
Seem to be gone, I feel. |
Shikibu 式部
18
Blankets
冬さむみ霜さゆる夜は明けぬれどあさぶすまこそぬがれざりけれ
fuyu samumi shimo sayu yo wa akenuredo asabusuma koso nugarezarikere | How cold the winter, and Chill the frost this night; It lightens, yet My hempen bedding I have not stripped off… |
Minamoto no Akinaka
源顕仲
Brushwood
冬寒み霜はおけども椎しばのときはの色はあせずもあるかな
fuyu samumi shimo wa okedomo shiishiba no tokiwa no iro wa asezu mo aru kana | In winter’s chill The frost falls, yet The brushwood’s Evergreen hues Fade not at all… |
Higo, from the Residence of the Kyōgoku Regent
京極関白家肥後
玉鉾の朝行く道の小笹原わくるもす裾に霜冴えにけり
tamahoko no
asa yuku michi no
ozasawara
wakuru mo suso ni
shimo saenikeri |
Jewelled-spear straight
My morning’s path through
The groves of young broad-leaved bamboo;
Forging through upon my hem
How chill lies the frost! |
Higo
'Simply moving and elegant'