At the time when the Grand Minister (Fujiwara no Tadahira) was Major Captain of the Left, on the day he was host to the winners of the Sumai Festival, the Middle Captain (Kanesuke) went and when all was done and everyone was heading home in the morning, two or three of the best remained, host and guests, and after drinking a great deal more, he mounted his horse, drunk, and when he was talking of his children, said:
人の親の心は闇にあらねども子を思ふ道にまどひぬるかな
Fito no oya no
kokoro Fa yami ni
aranedomo
ko wo omoFu miti ni
madoFinuru kana |
A parent’s
Heart in darkness
May not be, yet
Fondly thinking on his child, his way
Has he lost, indeed… |
Fujiwara no Kanesuke
On hearing Fukayabu playing a zither on a summer night.
短か夜のふけゆくまゝに高砂の峰の松風吹くかとぞ聞く
mizikayo no
Fukeyuku mama ni
takasago no
mine no matukaze
Fuku ka to zo kiku |
While a brief space of night
Breaks,
On Takasago
Peak, the wind through the pines
Does blow, I hear. |
Fujiwara no Kanesuke
Sent to someone when at the Kurita house.
あしひきの山の山鳥かひもなし峰の白雲立ちし寄らねば
asiFiki no
yama no yamadori
kaFi mo nasi
mine no sirakumo
tatisi yoraneba |
Leg-wearying
For the mountain pheasant
There’s nothing to be done:
Around the peaks, clouds of white
Do not draw near, so… |
Kanesuke
He had planted some plum trees with crimson blossoms in his garden and, when they were late to bloom the following Spring…
宿ちかく移して植へしかひもなく待ち遠にのみにほふ花哉
yado tikaku
utusite uFesi
kaFi mo naku
matidowo ni nomi
niFoFu Fana kana |
Closer to my home
I brought them and replanted,
But to no avail;
All they do is keep me waiting,
Those lustrous flowers! |
Fujiwara no Kanesuke (877-933)
Composed on the Sixth day of the Seventh Month on the feelings of Tanabata.
いつしかとまたく心をはぎにあげてあまのかはらをけふやわたらむ
itusika to
mataku kokoro wo
Fagi ni agete
ama no kaFara wo
keFu ya wataramu |
So impatiently
Has he waited that
Baring his shins in the dawn
On Heaven’s River shore
Might he cross today? |
Fujiwara no Kanesuke
'Simply moving and elegant'