When the Biwa Minister of the Left, having some use for them, requested some oak leaves, and this was sent to the house of his acquaintence, Chikane, to obtain them.
我が宿を何時馴らしてか楢の葉を馴らし顔には折りにをこする
| wa ga yado wo itu narasite ka nara no Fa wo narasigaFo ni Fa wori ni okosuru |
With my home When did you become so familiar? That leaves of oak So freely Do you send to pick! |
Toshiko
俊子
During the Chōgan Era, when His Majesty enquired when the Man’yōshū was created, he composed this and presented it.
神無月時雨ふりをけるならの葉の名におふ宮の古ごとぞこれ
| kaminaduki sigure Furiwokeru nara no Fa no na ni oFu miya no Furugoto zo kore |
In the Godless Month Drizzle falls upon The leaves of Nara oak! The palace bearing that name Produced these ancient words! |
Fun’ya no Arisue
文屋有季
Sedōka Topic unknown.
初瀬河布留川のへに二本ある杉年をへて又もあひ見む二本ある杉
| FatusegaFa FurukaFa no Fe ni Futamoto aru sugi tosi o Fete mata aFimimu Futamoto aru sugi |
The River Hatsuse, and River Furu: between their banks Stand twin cedars; The years go by, and They will come together once more, Twin cedars standing. |
Anonymous
When he visited, after many years, the home of lady with whom he had once been intimate, she composed this, pretending not to know who he was.
杉も杉宿もむかしの宿ながらかはるはひとの心なりけり
| sugi mo sugi yado mo mukashi no yado nagara kawaru wa hito no kokoro narikeri |
The cedars and their Dwelling make my home just as it was So long ago; What has changed is my Heart. |
Anonymous
On hearing the frogs .
我宿にあひ宿り宿りしてすむ蛙夜になればやものは悲しき
| wa ga yado ni aFiyadorisite sumu kaFadu yoru ni nareba ya mono Fa kanasiki |
At my home I lodge together with The frogs dwelling there; Is it that night has come That make everything so sad? |
Anonymous
During the reign of former Emperor Ichijō, around the time Her Majesty, the Empress, first made the acquaintence of Sei Shōnagon, she had to leave for two or three days in the Third Month, and this was sent to her from Her Majesty.
いかにして過ぎにし方を過ぐしけんくらしわづらふ昨日今日かな
| ika ni site suginisi kata wo sugusiken kurasiwaduraFu kinoFu keFu kana |
What ever was The way I spent my time before? And, how can I pass it now? Suffering in darkness Have these days gone by… |
Her Majesty, the Empress [Sadako]
Topic unknown.
みよしのの山のあなたにやどもがな世のうき時のかくれがにせむ
| miyosino no yama no anata ni yado mogana yo no uki toki no kakurega ni semu |
‘On Yoshino Mountain’s yonder side I would there were a house! For when I do despise the world There would I hide away! |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
難波潟潮満ちくらしあま衣たみのの島に鶴鳴き渡る
| naniFagata sio mitikurasi amagoromo tamino no sima ni tadu nakiwataru |
At the shore of Naniwa With high tide in the twilight, In rain-gear At Tamino Isle The cranes cross, calling. |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
世の中は何か常なるあすか川昨日の淵ぞけふは瀬になる
| yo no naka Fa nani ka tunenaru asukagaFa kinoFu no Futi zo keFu Fa se ni naru |
In this world What is there that lasts? On Asuka River The deeps of yesterday, are The shallows of today. |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
我が庵は三輪の山もと戀しくは訪らひ來ませ杉立てる門
| wa ga iFo Fa miFa no yama moto koFisiku Fa toburaFikimase sugi tateru kado |
My hut is At Mount Miwa’s foot; How I long For you to come visting My gate where cedars stand. |
Anonymous