Love Separated by Distant Roads 隔遠路恋
はるばるとおもひやれどもあさゆふにゆかぬ心のくるしきやなぞ
| harubaru to omoiyaredomo asa yū ni yukanu kokoro no kurushiki ya nazo | On the distance far Do dwell my pondering thoughts, so Why, morning and evening, too, Does my heart, held here, Feel such pain? |
Tadafusa
Composed when there was much disturbance in the world.
朝な朝な鹿の柵む萩がえの末葉の露のありがたのよや
| asana asana sika no sikaramu Fagi ga e no suweba no tuyu no arigata no yo ya |
Every morning The stag is tangled in Bush clover branches, Dew upon the leaf-tips – Such is the length of life… |
Zōki
増基
[One of] three poems composed at a banquet on the 3rd day of the Third Month, with an imperial envoy sent to inspect the border guards and messengers from the Ministry of War in attendance.
朝な朝な上がる雲雀になりてしか都に行きて早帰り来む
| asana asana agaru pibari ni naritesika miyako ni yukite paya kaperikon |
Every single morning Soars the skylark – If only I were she, then To the capital I’d go, and Swiftly return home! |
Abe no Samimaro
安倍沙美麻呂
Left
時鳥今宵はとまれ片岡の朝の原に帰りやせぬ
| Fototogisu koyoFi Fa tomare katawoka no asita no Fara ni kaFeri ya senu |
O, cuckoo Stay here this night, and Down the hillside With the morning to the plain Will you not return? |
19
Right
我が宿に声な惜しみそ時鳥通ふ千里のゆきはてぞ此は
| wa ga yado ni kowe na osimi so Fototogisu kayoFu tisato no yukiFate zo ko Fa |
At my home I regret not your song, O, cuckoo, For your thousand league Journey’s end lies here. |
20
Sad thoughts.
夕凝りの霜置きにけり朝戸出にいたくし踏みて人に知らゆな
| yupu kori no simo okinikeri asa tode ni itakusi pumite pito ni sirayuna | With the evening chill Frost has fallen; In the morning, opening the door Tread lightly, so No one will know… |
朝戸出の君が足結を濡らす露原早く起き出でつつ我れも裳裾濡らさな
| asa tode no kimi ga ayupi wo nurasu tuyu para payaku oki idetutu ware mo mosuso nurasana |
In the morning, opening the door Bound up, your belt Will be drenched by the dewy fields; Swiftly rising I, too, shall venture out and Soak my skirt-hem… |
Kakinomoto no Hitomaro Collection
柿本人麻呂歌集
On parting.
朝戸出の君が姿をよく見ずて長き春日を恋ひや暮らさむ
| asa tode no kimi ga sugata wo yoku mizute nagaki parupi wo kopi ya kurasamu |
In the morning, opening the door My lord’s form I could not see well, so How through this long spring day Can I live with my love? |
Composed on the conception of the moon over the water, at the residence of Supernumerary Middle Councillor Toshitada at Katsura.
あすも来む野路の玉川萩こえて色なる浪に月やどりけり
| asu mo komu nodi no tamakaFa Fagi koete ironaru nami ni tuki yadorikeri |
The morning comes, too, To Noji’s jewelled river; Over-running the bush-clover are Motley waves where The moon does lodge. |
Minamoto no Shunrai
源俊頼
玉鉾の朝行く道の小笹原わくるもす裾に霜冴えにけり
| tamahoko no asa yuku michi no ozasawara wakuru mo suso ni shimo saenikeri |
Jewelled-spear straight My morning’s path through The groves of young broad-leaved bamboo; Forging through upon my hem How chill lies the frost! |
Higo
On frogs.
背を早み落ちたぎちたる白波にかはづ鳴くなり朝夕ごとに
| se wo payami otitagititaru siranami ni kapadu nakunari asayupu goto ni |
The current flows so swift There are eddies making Whitecaps where The frogs do call, Morning and evening both… |
Anonymous