Left
住吉のきしによる波夜さへや夢のかよひ路人めよくらむ
| sumiyoshi no kishi ni yoru nami yoru sae ya yume no kayoiji hitome yokuramu | On Sumiyoshi’s Shore break waves; Even at night Upon the path of dreams Can we avoid others’ prying eyes? |
186
Right
夕附夜おぼろに人を見てしより天雲はれぬ心地こそすれ
| yūzukuyo oboro ni hito o miteshi yori amagumo harenu kokochi koso sure | On a moonlit evening Faintly, a lady Did I see, and ever since Heaven’s clouds, unclearing, Weigh on my feelings… |
187
Wisteria blooming by a river bank
Left
さだめなく吹く風なれば池水のきしをめぐりてよする藤なみ
| sadamenaku fuku kaze nareba ikemizu no kishi o megurite yosuru Fujinami | Inconstant is The gusting wind, so By the pondwater’s Bank and all along it Break wisteria waves… |
Fujiwara no Munenari
11
Right
藤なみのかからぬ岸のなければやこぎくる舟のよるひまのなき
| fujinami no kakaranu kishi no nakereba ya kogikuru fune no yoru hima no naki | Untouched by wisteria waves Such a bank Is there not one? Come rowing, the boats Have not a moment to make shore. |
Lesser Superintendant Fujiwara no Sadamitsu
12
A poem from the Empress’ Poetry Competition held in the Kanpyō period.
住の江の岸による浪夜さへや夢の通ひ路人目よくらむ
| suminoe no kisi ni yoru nami yoru saFe ya yume no kayoFidi Fitome yokuramu |
As to Suminoe’s Shore rush the waves Why every night Upon the path of dreams Do I hide from other’s eyes? |
Fujiwara no Toshiyuki
藤原敏行
Two poems composed by Naga no imiki Okimaro, grieving at the sight of the bound pine.
磐代の岸の松が枝結びけむ人は帰りてまた見けむかも
| ipasiro no kisi no matu ga e musubikemu pito pa kaperite mata mikemu kamo |
On Iwashiro’s Shore, a pine’s branches It seems he tied – I wonder, will he return And see them once more… |
Naga no Okimaro
長意吉麻呂
Upon meeting with Imperial Princess Shishi of the First Order (955-1015), they talked of times past and she composed:
袖にさへ秋のゆふべはしられけりきえしあさぢがつゆをかけつゝ
| sode ni sae aki no yûbe wa shirarekeri kieshi asaji ga tsuyu wo kaketsutsu |
Even upon our sleeves Does the autumn evening Reveal itself; The thatch, now gone, Is ever dew-drenched. |
Imperial Consort, Princess Kishi (929-985)