In the Tenth Month, when He was in Minase, He sent to Former Archbishop Jien saying He had been ‘soaked by the showers’ or some such; in the Godless Month of the following year, among a great number of undistinguished poems, He sent this.
おもひいづるおりたくしばのゆふけぶりむせぶもうれし忘がたみに
| omoiizuru ori taku shiba no yûkeburi musebu mo ureshi wasuregatami ni |
Remembering her, Snapped kindling Smoke in the evening Chokes me-happy For I can never forget her. |
The Senior Retired Emperor [Gotoba]
後鳥羽
After the death of Sada’ie’s mother, around autumn time he was staying at a temple near her grave and composed this.
まれにくる夜はもかなしき松風をたえずやこけのしたにきくらん
| mare ni kuru yo wa mo kanashiki matsu kaze o taezu ya koke no shita ni kikuran |
Rarely did I come At nights now I sorrowfully Pine trees in the wind Unceasing; with the moss Above, I wonder will I hear it? |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
One Autumn, in remembrance of his mother he had gone into seclusion at the Hōrin [Temple] and, when the storm winds were blowing strongly…
うきよにはいまはあらしの山かぜにこれやなれゆくはじめなるらん
| uki yo ni wa ima wa arashi no yama kaze ni kore ya nareyuku hajime naruran |
In this cruel world Now, the storm winds Off the mountain: Will I grow accustomed to them- Is this the first step, I wonder? |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
After her mother’s death, composed on the evening of the funeral at Saga.
今はさはうきよのさがのゝべをこそつゆきえはてしあとゝしのばめ
| ima wa sa wa uki yo no saga no nobe o koso tsuyu kiehateshi ato to shinobame |
Now it is just so: In this fleeting world at Saga Field, indeed, has The dew vanished completely, and All I can do is recall the traces left behind. |
The Daughter of Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
In reply:
おもひきやはかなくをきし袖のうへのつゆをかたみにかけん物とは
| omoiki ya hakanaku okishi sode no ue no tsuyu o katami ni kaken mono to wa |
Did I ever think on it… In fleeting moments fallen Upon the sleeves, Of we two, the dewdrops, in memory of her, Hang – binding. |
Jōtōmon’in [Fujiwara no Shōshi (998-1074)]
Sent back when the Jōtōmon Empress enquired after [Izumi Shikibu’s daughter] Koshikibu no Naishi after she had died, saying, ‘Send Me her Cathay robes patterned with dew spattered bush clover.’
をくと見しつゆもありけりはかなくてきえにし人をなにゝたとへん
| oku to mishi tsuyu mo arikeri hakanakute kienishi hito o nani ni tatoen |
Fallen, I saw The dew-and it’s still there; In fleeting moments She was gone and now To what can I compare her? |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部