Tag Archives: Izumi Shikibu

GSIS XIII: 757

Having been forgotten by a man, she bundled up some clothing and sent it to him, writing this on the leather belt fastening it.

泣き流す涙に堪へで絶えぬればはなだの帶の心地社すれ

nakinagasu
namida ni taFede
taenureba
Fanada no obi no
kokoti koso sure
This weeping flow
Of tears is too much to bear, and
We are done, so
A broken pale-blue belt
Would express my feelings.

Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部

GSIS XIII: 745

Composed when a man who had not visited in a long time called upon her, and then did not call again.

なかなかにうかりしまゝにやみにせば忘るゝ程に成も志なまし

nakanaka ni
ukarisi mama ni
yami ni seba
wasururu Fodo ni
nari mo sinamasi
If completely
Cold were we
And had ended it,
Forgetting you
Would come easily.

Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部

GSIS XII: 703

To someone who had said, on a day when the rain was pouring down, that the rain was the tears on his sleeves.

見し人に忘られて降る袖にこそ身を志る雨はいつもをやまね

misi Fito ni
wasurarete Furu
sode ni koso
mi wo siru ame Fa
itumo wo yamane
A man saw me
Then forgotten did I spend my days
Upon my sleeves
The rain-knowing well my fate-
Never ceases falling.

Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部