Grieving that he had grown old, while seated beneath the cherry blossoms.
色も香もおなじ昔にさくらめど年ふる人ぞあらたまりける
| iro mo ka mo onadi mukasi ni sakuramedo tosi Furu Fito zo aratamarikeru | In both hue and scent Just as in days long gone Do they seem to bloom, yet A man with years laid upon him Has changed beyond all measure. |
Ki no Tomonori
Sent to someone whom he used to visit often to play go when he was in Tsukushi, after his return to the capital.
ふるさとは見しごともあらずをののえのくちし所ぞこひしかりける
| Furusato Fa misi goto mo arazu wono no e no kutisi tokoro zo koFisikarikeru |
The old place Is not as I remember; My axe handle Rotted in the place Where I long to be. |
Ki no Tomonori
紀友則
Once, when he had gone to someone’s house to avoid a directional taboo, he was dressed in one of his host’s robes and composed this as he prepared to return it the following morning.
蝉のはのよるの衣はうすけれどうつりがこくもにほひぬるかな
| semi no Fa no yoru no koromo Fa usukeredo uturiga koku mo niFoFinuru kana |
A cicada’s wing is This night robe: Thin, indeed, yet Its lingering fragrance hangs heavy In my nostrils still. |
Ki no Tomonori
紀友則
Upon being asked by Prince Koretaka for the poems which his father had composed while he was alive, Tomonori wrote them out and sent them, composing this poem and putting it at the end.
ことならば事のはさへもきえななむ見れば涙のたぎまさりけり
| koto naraba koto no Fa saFe mo kienanamu mireba namida no tagi masarikeri |
If it’s all the same I wish that even his words Would vanish away, For at the sight of them my tears Fall in cataracts. |
Tomonori
友則
When Fujiwara no Toshiyuki died, Tomonori composed this and sent it to his house.
寢ても見ゆ寢でも見てけり大方はうつせみの世ぞ夢にはありける
| netemo miyu nedemo mitekeri oFokata Fa utusemi no yo zo yume ni Fa arikeru |
In my sleep he appears; Even unsleeping do I feel I see him; All Is a fleeting world Within a dream. |
Ki no Tomonori
紀友則