When I had gone to the palace of the Former Empress to report that I was to leave for the provinces, Jijū the Handmaid said, while providing me with supplies for the journey:
みちのくにころものせきはたちぬれど
| michinoku ni koromo no seki Fa tatinuredo |
In Michinoku The barrier of garments Will you thread, yet |
And I nimbly concluded:
またあふさかはたのもしきかな
| mata aFusaka Fa tanomosiki kana |
Still, on Meeting Hill is Where I would be. |
From the Poetry Contest in 1500 Rounds.
たづねみるつらき心のおくのうみよしほひのかたのいふかひもなし
| tazune miru tsuraki kokoro no oku no umi yoshioi no kata no iukai mo nashi |
Should I seek out love Within her cold heart’s Depths – as at the sea by Michinoku In the tidal inlets There are no shellfish – ’twould be pointless. |
Sada’ie
定家
After Michisada had abandoned her, and gone to be governor of Michinoku, she sent him this.
もろともにたゝましものを陸奧の衣の關をよそにきくかな
| morotomo ni tatamasi mono wo mitinoku no koromo no seki wo yoso ni kiku kana |
Together Would we once have cut our way; but Of Michinoku’s Garment-the Barrier of Koromo– I hear from another. |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
When he went down to Michinoku Province, he sent this back to the capital from the barrier at Meeting Hill.
われひとり急ぐと思ひし東路に垣根の梅はさきだちにけり
| ware Fitori isogu to omoFisi adumadi ni kakine no mume Fa sakidatinikeri |
I, alone, Was hurried, or so I thought, Upon this eastland road; The plum trees by the fence Have bloomed already. |
Tachibana no Norimitsu
Topic unknown.
みちのくのあさかのぬまの花かつみかつ見る人にこひやわたらむ
| mitinoku no asaka no numa no Fanakatumi katu miru Fito ni koFi ya wataramu |
In Michinoku At the marsh of Asaka Irises I see, and I see my lover, too, but rarely, so Will this love continue, I wonder? |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
陸奧にありといふなるなとり河無き名とりては苦しかりけり
| mitinoku ni ari to iFu naru natorigaFa naki na torite Fa kurusikarikeri | In Michinoku There is, I hear, The River Natori-Stealer of Names- Losing one’s good name Is most painful of all. |
Tadamine
忠岑