Tag Archives: miscellaneous

GSS XVI: 1182

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

KKS XVIII: 997

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

GSIS XIX: 1147

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

SZS XVI: 966

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]