When Jakuren and others urged him to compose a hundred poem sequence, he refused and went off on a pilgrimage to Kumano; on the way, he had a dream that all else might fade, but that poetry would be something lasting through the end of the world; thinking that he must give a reason for composing the poems to Superintendant Tankai and Toshinari of the third rank, when he awakened he hurriedly composed them and sent them off, writing this in the wrapping.
すゑのよもこのなさけのみかはらずと見し夢なくはよそにきかまし
sue no yo mo
kono nasake nomi
kawarazu to
mishi yume naku wa
yoso ni kikamashi
At the world’s end
This gentle art alone
Will stand imperishable –
Had I not had this dream…
I would have you hear of it.
After Izumi Shikibu had been abandoned by Michisada, Akazome Emon heard that almost immediately Prince Atsumichi had begun to visit her, and sent her this:
うつろはでしばしゝのだのもりをみよかへりもぞするくずのうら風
utsurowade
shibashi shinoda no
mori o miyo
kaeri mo zo suru
kuzu no ura kaze
Turn not! And
For a while on Shinoda
Forest rest your gaze!
For it may return again:
The breeze ‘neath the arrowroot leaves.