Love Waiting for Someone 待人恋
すみよしの松とは人のしらねばやなみうちたえてきしもせざらん
| sumiyoshi no matsu to wa hito no shiraneba ya nami uchitaete kishi mo sezaran | At Sumiyoshi are The pines of folk All unknowing? The waves have stopped, and Even the shore seems untouched. |
Tadafusa
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
Composed at the River Ōi.
水もなくみえこそわたれ大井河岸の紅葉は雨とふれども
| midu mo naku mie koso watare oFowigaFa kisi no momidi Fa ame to Furedomo |
No water To be seen around at The River Ōi Yet on the banks the scarlet leave Do fall as rain… |
Fujiwara no Sadayori
藤原定頼
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
住吉の岸野の榛ににほふれどにほはぬ我れやにほひて居らむ
| suminoe no kishino no hari ni niouredo niohanu ware ya nioiteoramu |
At Sumiyoshi, with Alder growing on the banks Is all dyed, yet Will I, as yet unmarked, Paint him with colour? |
竜田川岸の山吹咲きぬれば影より波ぞ折りはじめける
| tatsutagawa kishi no yamabuki sakinureba kage yori nami zo orihajimekeru |
On Tatsuta River’s Bank, the kerria Has bloomed, so From its face Waves have begun to weave… |
Tsunemasa
経正
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)