When a monk dropped his fan, she returned it with this poem.
儚くも忘られにける扇哉おちたりけりとひともこそみれ
| Fakanaku mo wasurarenikeru aFugi kana otitarikeri to Fito mo koso mire |
How fragile is This forgotten Fan. He must have fallen – Is what folk may think! |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
Composed on the purification ceremony at the end of the Sixth Month.
思ふ事皆つきねとて麻の葉をきりにきりても祓へつる哉
| omoFu koto mina tukine tote asa no Fa wo kiri ni kirite mo FaraFeturu kana |
My cares Will be all over-with the Sixth Month- Leaves of hemp Cut everywhere and Wipe them all away. |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
When she had been forgotten by a man, she went to Kibune, and composed this on seeing fireflies flitting about by the Mitarashi River.
物思へば澤の螢も我身よりあくがれ出づる玉かとぞみる
| mono’omoFeba saFa no Fotaru mo wa ga mi yori akugare iduru tama ka to zo miru |
I’m at such a loss; Fireflies by the marsh: From my breast Wanders out My soul, or so it seems. |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
Once, when she was on her way to Ishiyama, she stopped to rest at a place called Yamashina; the master of the house there was interested in her and so suggested that she might stop there again on her way back. She composed this to say she would do nothing of the sort.
歸るさをまち心みよかくながらよもたゞにては山科の里
| kaFeru sa wo mati kokoromiyo kaku nagara yomo tada nite Fa yamasina no sato |
For my journey home I’ll be waiting-see if that’s the truth! Were it so, Surely like this We would not remain, in your house in Yamashina! |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
When a man with whom she had been corresponding for while asked for a poem, saying he wanted to send it to another woman, she first composed this expressing her own feelings.
語らへば慰む事もあるものを忘れやしなむ戀のまぎれに
| kataraFeba nagusamu koto mo aru mono wo wasure ya sinamu koFi no magire ni |
Having you to correspond Is a comfort At least, yet I wonder will you forget me In the tangled coils of love? |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
When she had something on her mind, she composed this while gazing at some autumn leaves in her hand.
いかなれば同じ色にて落つれども涙は目にも止らざるらむ
| ika nareba onazi iro nite oturedomo namida Fa me ni mo tomarazaruramu |
Why should it be That in the same hues They fall, yet Tears within my eyes Will not remain? |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
Composed at a time when she was thinking the world was not as it had always been.
忍ぶべきひともなき身はある折にあはれあはれといひや置かまし
| sinobubeki Fito mo naki mi Fa aru wori ni aFareaFare to iFi ya wokamasi |
To think fondly of me when I’m gone I have no one at all; In my remaining time, To bemoan my lot Is that all for me to do? |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
Composed at a time when she was thinking the world was not as it had always been.
物をのみ思ひしほどに儚くて淺ぢが末に世はなりにけり
| mono wo nomi omoFisi Fodo ni Fakanakute asadi ga suwe ni yo Fa narinikeri |
Gloom alone Is in my thoughts; Fleeting as Fronds of cogon grass Has this world become. |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
When in Tango province, composed on hearing a stag call in the night after [her husband, Fujiwara no] Yasumasa had said he was going hunting the following day.
ことわりやいかでか鹿の鳴かざらむ今宵ばかりの命とおもへば
| kotowari ya ikade ka sika no nakazaramu koyoFi bakari no inoti to omoFeba |
It seems natural. Why should the stag Not cry? For this night is all His life, he knows. |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
Sent to a man who returned home, saying she had been slow to open her gate.
長しとて明ずやはあらむ秋の夜は待てかし槇のと計をだに
| nagasi tote akezu ya Fa aramu aki no yo Fa mate kasi maki no to bakari wo dani |
It lasts long, they say, Without a hint of light, I think? On an Autumn night Wait awhile! Until my cedarwood Door opens, at least! |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部