Sent to a woman.
名にしおはばあふさか山のさねかづら人にしられでくるよしもがな
| na ni si oFaba aFusakayama no sanekadura Fito ni sirarede kuru yosi mogana | If the name fits, then As Meeting Mount’s Twining kadsura vine, Without others finding out, I wish I had a way to come to you! |
The Sanjō Minister of the Right
Composed on love at the barrier of Meeting Hill by His Majesty, when his gentlemen were drawing out the names of places and composing poems on them.
あふさかのなをもたのまじ恋すれば関のし水に袖はぬれけり
| aFusaka no na wo mo tanomazi koFisureba seki no simidu ni sode Fa nurekeri | Meeting Hill— An untrustworthy name, indeed! My passions Dammed, the spring waters by the barrier Have soaked my sleeves. |
Imperial Composition [Emperor Shirakawa]
ときのまもあきのいろをやをみなへしながきあだなにいはれはてなん
| toki no ma mo aki no iro o ya ominaeshi nagaki adana ni iwarehatenan | For such a brief time In her autumn hues is A maidenflower, and yet Ever is she faithless Said to be… |
39
あきのののくさをみなへししらぬみははなのなにこそおどろかれぬれ
| aki no no no kusa o mina heshi shiranu mi wa ana no na ni koso odorokarenure | Through all the autumn meadows’ Grasses have I passed, yet I know them not, so When I learned her name How surprised I was! |
40
なにしおへばあはれとおもふををみなへしたれをうしとかまだきうつろふ
| na ni shi oeba aware to omou o ominaeshi tare o ushi to ka madaki utsurou | Bearing such a name, She is dear, indeed, I feel, that Maidenflower, but Who is it that she does despise so, That she fades so swiftly? |
Mareyo
37
ちるはるをみなへしはなはあき風のふかむことをばくるしからじな
| chiru haru o mina heshi hana wa akikaze no fukamu koto oba kurushikaraji na | Scattered in springtime Have all the blossoms, so When the autumn wind Begins to blow She suffers not, I think… |
Motoyuki
38
なにしおはばしひてたのまむをみなへしひとのこころのあきはうくとも[1]
| na ni shi owaba shiite tanomamu ominaeshi hito no kokoro no aki wa uku tomo | If the name fits, then Strongly, would I ask you, Maidenflower: Though folk’s full hearts In autumn, be cruel… |
37
あきのよをひとりねたらむあまのがはふちせたどらずいざわたりなむ
| aki no yo o hitori netaramu ama no kawa fuchise tadorazu iza watarinamu | On an autumn night, I sleep alone, it seems, for To the River of Heaven’s Depths and shallows I will not make my way— However can I cross them? |
39
[1] Shinchokusenshū 242; also a minor variant occurs in Kokin rokujō (3368) なにしおはばしひてたのまんをみなへし花の心の秋はうくともna ni shi owaba / shiite tanomamu / ominaeshi / hana no kokoro no / aki wa uku tomo ‘If the name fits, then / Forcefully, would I trust you, / Maidenflower: / Though a flower’s heart / In autumn, be cruel…’ Tsurayuki.
[One of] two poems sent by Ōtomo sukune Yakamochi to the Elder Maiden of the House of Sakanoue (a love poem to say that though they had been parted for many years, he hoped they would meet again).
忘れ草我が下紐に付けたれど醜の醜草言にしありけり
| wasuregusa wa ga sitapimo ni tuketaredo siko no sikokusa koto ni shi arikeri |
A forgetful day-lily To my under-belt Is bound, yet This annoying weed Is so in name alone! |
Ōtomo no Yakamochi
大伴家持