Composed gazing at the moon, the year after Lord Minamoto no Tameyoshi had died.
いのちあればことしの秋も月はみつわかれし人にあふよなきかも
inochi areba kotoshi no aki mo tsuki wa mitsu wakareshi hito ni au yo naki kamo | I have life, so This year in autumn, too, I have gazed upon the moon, but Parted from him, No more nights of meeting in this world there’ll be. |
Monk Nōin
Composed on the conception of the very end of the year.
なにごとをまつとはなしにあけくれてことしもけふに成りにけるかな
nani goto wo matu to Fa nasi ni akekurete kotosi mo keFu ni narinikeru kana | What have I To wait for? Nothing! So I have passed the days and nights This year and now today Has arrived! |
Middle Counsellor Kunizane
Left
こひこひてただにややまむなつむしのおもひのほかにみをやすててむ
koikoite tada ni ya yamamu natsumushi no omoi no hoka ni mi o ya sutetemu | So much in love— Will it ever all be over? As a firefly In sudden fires of passion Should I abandon all restraint? |
7
Right
たれによりひとつおもひにみをすててことしもなつのむしとなりしぞ
tare ni yori hitotsu omoi ni mi o sutete kotoshi mo natsu no mushi to narishi zo | For whose sake is it I burn with singular passion? Abandoning all restraint This year, too, a fire Fly have I become! |
8
なに事を待つとはなしに明けくれてことしもけふになりにけるかな
nanigoto o matsu to wa nashi ni akekurete kotoshi mo kyō ni narinikeru kana | What is there To wait for? Nothing! Dawn, then dusk and The new year, too, today Has come! |
Minamoto no Kunizane
源国信
Cathay Folk 唐人
うれしきをいかにすればかから人のことしも袖をせばくたつらん
ureshiki o ika ni sureba ka karabito no kotoshi mo sode o sebaku tatsuran | My joy, What am I to do with it? For the Cathay folk This year, too, have sleeves So narrowly sewn! |
Tadafusa
Composed when the Horikawa Grand Minister had died, after the cremation on Mount Fukakusa was over.
深草の野辺の桜し心あらばことし許はすみぞめに咲け
Fukakusa no
nobe no sakura si
kokoro araba
kotosi bakari Fa
sumizome ni sake |
At Fukakusa
In the meadows, had the cherry trees
Any heart at all,
For just this year
Would they bloom in charcoal hues. |
Kamutsuke no Mineo
上野岑雄
'Simply moving and elegant'