Monkeys 猿
ゆふづくひさすや嵐の山もとに物わびしらにさるさけぶなり
yūzuku hi sasu ya arashi no yamamoto ni monowabishira ni saru sakebunari | The twilight sun Shines around Arashi Mountain’s foot where So sorrowfully The monkeys howl. |
Nakazane
Spiders 蜘蛛
ささがにのしるしもいさやいかならんこよひにてみんくものふるまひ
sasagani no shirushi mo isa ya ika naruran koyoi nite min kumo no furumai | A tiny crab’s Sign, well, What to make of it? Tonight will I attend to The spider’s behaviour… |
Nakazane
Zithers 筝
空の色によそへることのことぢをばつらなるかりとおもひけるかな
sora no iro ni yosoeru koto no kotoji o ba tsuranaru kari to omoikeru kana | The heavens’ hues I recall—my zither’s Bridges Aligned like geese Do seem to be! |
Nakazane
Flutes 笛
吹きたつる笛のしらべの声きけばのどけきちりもあらじとぞおもふ
fukitatsuru fue no shirabe no koe kikeba nodokeki chiri mo araji to zo omou | When, soaring, A flute’s melodious Notes I hear, Leisurely lacks Have they none, I feel. |
Nakazane
Next Door 隣
色かへてふりぬる物は年たかきとなりの松とわれとなりけり
iro kaete furinuru mono wa toshi takaki tonari no matsu to ware to narikeri | Hues do change as Age falls upon one: Towering with years have Both the pines next door and I become. |
Nakazane
Boats 船
くもつよりすすめぐりするこし舟のおきこぎさかるほのぼのにみゆ
kumotsu yori susu megurisuru koshibune no oki kogisakaru honobono ni miyu | From Kumotsu Around to Susu go The boats from Koshi, Rowing further into the offing Only faintly to be seen. |
Nakazane
Seafolk 泉郎
おほいそにあさな夕なにかづきするあまも我がごとそでやぬるらん
ōiso ni asana yūna ni kazukisuru ama mo wa ga goto sode ya nururan | At Ōiso Every morn and evening, too, Diving do The fisher-girls, just as I, Have soaking sleeves, I wonder? |
Nakazane
Old Folk 老人
朝露をひさしき物とおもふ世にほとけの兄にいかでなりけん
asatsuyu o hisashiki mono to omou yo ni hotoke no ani ni ikade nariken | My morning dew is A thing of times long gone I feel, but in this world The Buddha’s four-score years and one How might I attain? |
Nakazane
Singing Girls 妓女
絵にかくと筆もおよばじ乙女子が花のすがたを誰にみせまし
e ni kaku to fude mo oyobaji otomego ga hana no sugata o tare ni misemashi | A painted picture No brush can match – The maidens’ Blossoming forms: To whom should I reveal? |
Nakazane
Wang Zhaojun 王昭君
ゆくすがら心もゆかず別ぢはなほふる里のことぞかなしき
yuku sugara kokoro mo yukazu wareji wa nao furusato no koto zo kanashiki | On my way along, Uncomprehending, This path of parting, O, my home – How sad I am with thoughts of you! |
Nakazane
'Simply moving and elegant'