Lilac Daphne.
一重きるきぬもうきまでいかにひのはなはだしくも照増るらむ
hitoe kiru kinu mo uki made ika ni hi no hanahadashiku mo terimasaruramu | A single layer have I donned; My garb so thin, yet Why is it the sun So savagely Seems to shine so bright? |
Murata Harumi (1746-1811)|
村田春海
Left
秋の月草むらわかずてらせばややどせる露を玉とみすらん
aki no tsuki kusamura wakazu teraseba ya yadoseru tsuyu o tama to misuran | Does the autumn moon Not forge through the grassy thickets As it shines? For The dewdrops it lodges there It seems to display as jewels. |
114
Right
なほざりに秋のみやまに入りぬれば錦のいろの衣をこそきれ
naozari ni aki nomi yama ni irinureba nishiki no iro no kinu o koso kire | Easily, indeed, Does autumn, simply, to the mountains Enter in, so In garb the hue of Brocade do they clothe themselves! |
115
Left
秋のせみさむき声にぞきこゆなる木のはの衣を風やぬぎつる
aki no semi samuki koe ni zo kikoyunaru ko no ha no kinu o kaze ya nugitsuru | In the autumn, the cicadas’ Chill song I hear; Has the trees’ garb of leaves Been stripped from them by the wind? |
112[1]
Right
あきの夜の月の影こそ木の間よりおちてはきぬとみえわたりけれ
aki no yo no tsuki no kage koso ko no ma yori ochite wa kinu to miewatarikere | On an autumn night The moon’s light, truly, From between the trees Does come a’falling Everywhere, it seems. |
113
[1] Shinsen man’yōshū 109/Fubokushō XIII: 5422
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Dowager Empress during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
秋のせみさむき声にぞきこゆなる木のはの衣を風やぬぎつる
aki no semi samuki koe ni zo kikoyunaru ko no ha no kinu o kaze ya nugitsuru | In the autumn, the cicadas’ Chill song I hear; Has the trees’ garb of leaves Been stripped from them by the wind? |
Anonymous
Coming of Age 元服
むらさきのはつもとゆひにむすびおかんつるばみの衣ちとせふるまで
murasaki no hatsu motoyui ni musubiokan tsurubami no kinu chitose furu made | With violet was Your first topknot Tied for now; May you wear noble, dark grey garb Until a thousand years have passed! |
Daishin
On clothing.
橡の衣は人皆事なしと言ひし時より着欲しく思ほゆ
turubami no
kinu pa pito mina
koto nasi to
ipisi toki yori
kiposiki omopoyu |
An oak-dyed
Robe, so all
Say is fine –
Since then
I would wear one, I feel. |
鴬のこつたふ枝の移り香は桜の花のときの待つ衣
ugupisu no
ko tutapu eda no
uturika pa
sakura no pana no
toki no matu kinu |
The bush warbler
Tells me of the branches’
Fragrance:
For cherry blossom
Season does my robe await. |
Yamabe no Akahito
山辺赤人
苗代の小水葱が花を衣に摺りなるるまにまにあぜか愛しけ
napasiro no
konagi ga pana wo
kinu ni suri
naruru mani mani
aze ga kanasike |
Well-watered
The little heartleaf bloom
Has stained my robe;
I am accustomed to it now,
So why is it that I love it so? |
Anonymous
'Simply moving and elegant'