Composed on the spirit of the moon seen from within a valley, when at the house of the Hōshō-ji Lay Priest and Former Grand Minister [Fujiwara no Tadamichi].
てる月の旅寐の床やしもとゆふかつらぎ山の谷川のみづ
teru tuki no
tabine no toko ya
simoto yuFu
katuragi yama no
tanigaFa no midu
The shining moon:
Does it make a traveller’s bed in,
Bound with greenery,
The Katsuragi Hills‘
Valleys’ river waters?
During the reign of Retired Emperor Horikawa, when Middle Councillor [Minamoto no] Shigesuke (1045-1122) was the Controller of the Chamberlain’s Office, he sent this together with a letter from [his eldest son] Minamoto no Toshishige requesting a position as Secretary in the Ministry of Ceremonial.
日の光あまねき空のけしきにもわが身一つは雲隱れつゝ
Fi no Fikari amaneki sora no kesiki ni mo wa ga mi Fitotu Fa kumo kakuretutu
The sunlight Fills the entire sky; Yet in this sight I alone Am always hidden ’neath the clouds.