Composed on warblers.
うちきらし雪はふりつつしかすがにわが家のそのに鶯ぞなく
utikirasi
yuki Fa Furitutu
sikasuga ni
wa ga ya no sono ni
uguisu zo naku | All is darkened by
The ever-falling snow,
But even so
In the grounds around my home
Indeed, the warbler sings! |
Ōtomo no Yakamochi
あしびきの山よりおくにやどもがな年のくまじきかくれがにせむ
ashihiki no
yama yori oku ni
yado mogana
toshi no kumajiki
kakurega ni semu | Deeper than the leg-wearying
Mountains’ depth
I would make my home
That the years will not come there,
To my hidden hut. |
397
My reply:
ぬししれと引きける駒の雪を分けばかしこき跡にかへれとぞ思ふ
nushi shire to
hikikeru koma no
yuki o wakeba
kashikoki ato ni
kaere to zo omou | ‘Know your master!’
Following such a mount
Forged through the snow did you, then
In his fine footsteps
Returned home, I feel! |
387
I wrote this myself and sent it with Naitō Tomochika, Secretary of the Bureau of Horses, having selected him as a trustworthy individual.
Waiting for a man amidst the snow.
けふもまたひとりながめてくれにけりたのめぬやどの庭の白雪
kyō mo mata
hitori nagamete
kurenikeri
tanomenu yado no
niwa no shirayuki | Today, once more, again
Alone I gaze into
The gathered twilight;
No hopes at my home with
Snow, so white, the garden covering… |
384
もみぢばは道もなきまで散りしきぬわがやどをとふ人しなければ
momijiba wa
michi mo naki made
chirishikinu
wa ga yado o tou
hito shi nakereba | Scarlet leaves—
The path is gone
With their scattered spreading,
For visiting my home
Comes not a single soul… |
Insects at an ancient estate
たのめこし人だにとはぬふる郷にたれ松むしのよはに鳴くらん
tanomekoshi
hito dani towanu
furusato ni
tare matsumushi no
yowa ni nakuran | Him, I trusted, but
He calls not at all
At my dilapidated home, so
For whom might the pining crickets
Cry at midnight? |
Composed on the conception of evening.
たそがれに物おもひをれば我が宿の荻のはそよぎ秋風ぞふく
tasogare ni
mono’omoi oreba
wa ga yado no
ogi no ha soyogi
akikaze zo fuku | With the twilight
Gloom fills my thoughts, when
At my home
The silver grass frond rustle—
On blows the autumn wind! |
Bush clover in the grounds.
秋風はいたくな吹きそわがやどのもとあらの小萩ちらまくもをし
akikaze wa
itaku na fuki so
wa ga yado no
motoara no kohagi
chiramaku mo oshi | O, autumn breezes,
Blow not so fiercely!
For at my home
The scanty bush clover’s
Scattering around I do regret! |
A cuckoo at a mountain dwelling.
山ちかく家ゐしせれば郭公なくはつこゑをわれのみぞきく
yama chikaku
ie ishisereba
hototogisu
naku hatsukoe o
ware nomi zo kiku | Near unto the mountains
Have I set my home, so
The cuckoo’s
First sung call
Is for me, alone, to hear! |
Composed on crickets.
秋風之 寒吹奈倍 吾屋前之 浅茅之本尓 蟋蟀鳴毛
あきかぜの さむくふくなへ わがやどの あさぢがもとに こほろぎなくも
akikaze no
samuku puku nape
wa ga yado no
asadimoto ni
koporogi naku mo | The autumn wind
Blows chill, as
At my home,
From the roots of cogon grass
The crickets cry… |
Anonymous
'Simply moving and elegant'
