In the Autumn [of the year] the mother of Provisional Councillor Michi’ie died, he sent this to the Regent and Grand Minister.
かぎりなき思のほどの夢のうちはおどろかさじとなげきこしかな
| kagirinaki omoi no hodo no yume no uchi wa odorokasaji to nageki koshi kana |
Beyond all measure must Your feelings be at this time, Within a dream from which You cannot awake-I would not disturb you With my own small grief. |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
At a time when she was saddened by the fleeting nature of the world while looking at some pictures of named places in Michinoku.
見し人のけぶりになりしゆふべより名ぞむつましきしほがまのうら
| mishi hito no keburi ni narishi yûbe yori na zo mutsumashiki shiogama no ura | Him, I saw, Turn into smoke, and Since that evening, Even the name fills me with fond thoughts: The bay at Shiogama. |
Murasaki Shikibu
紫式部
After Koshōjō of the Jōtōmon Palace died, she saw a love letter she had been writing lying in something, and sent it to the Kaga Junior Councillor with this.
たれかよにながらへて見んかきとめしあとはきえせぬかたみなれども
| tare ka yo ni nagaraete min kakitomeshi ato wa kiesenu katami naredomo |
Who, within this world, Will go on and on? Her brush is halted And the words: a never fading Keepsake be, yet… |
Murasaki Shikibu
紫式部
She composed this after Koshikibu no Naishi died, to say that she would have a small box she had always kept near her made into a sutra case.
こひわぶときゝにだにきけかねのをとにうちわすらるゝ時のまぞなき
| koiwabu to kiki ni dani kike kane no oto ni uchiwasuraruru toki no ma zo naki |
My fond grief: Listen to it, if you can, When the bell chimes, Struck-I will forget you For not one single moment. |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部