Tag Archives: Genmei

MYS I: 78

It is said that Her Majesty, when on the way to the capital, Nara, from the Fujiwara palace, had her palanquin halted at Nagaya-no-hara and composed this poem gazing at her former home.

飛鳥 明日香能里乎 置而伊奈婆 君之當者 不所見香聞安良武 [一云 君之當乎 不見而香毛安良牟]

飛ぶ鳥の明日香の里を置きて去なば君があたりは見えずかもあらむ

tobu tori no
asuka no sato wo
okite inaba
kimi ga atari pa
miezu kamo aramu
A bird in flight:
If the estate of Asuka
I should leave behind,
Then my Lord’s lands
I will see no more.

Empress Genmei (660-721)
元明皇后

SKKS X: 896

Written in the third month of the third year of Wado (711) when moving from the Fujiwara palace to Nara.

とぶとりのあすかのさとをゝきていなば君があたりはみえずかもあらん

tobu tori no
asuka no sato o
okiteinaba
kimi ga atari wa
miezu kamo aran
With the flying birds
Of Asuka estate
Left far behind,
My Lord’s resting place
Is gone from view, I’d say.

Empress Genmei (661-721, r. 707-715)