When Cloistered Prince Shukaku ordered him to compose a fifty poem sequence.
たれとしもしらぬ別のかなしきはまつらがおきをいづるふな人
| tare to shimo shiranu wakare no kanashiki wa matsura ga oki o izuru funabito | Who that is I know not, but parting’s Sadness strikes On the offing at Matsura where He departs on his boat… |
Lord Fujiwara no Takanobu
When Minamoto no Sane left her, saying that he was going to take a hot spring cure in Tsukushi, she composed this at Yamazaki, regretting their parting.
いのちだに心にかなふ物ならばなにか別のかなしからまし
| inoti wo dani kokoro ni kanaFu mono naraba nani ka wakare no kanasikaramasi | If life at least As we wished Would go Why, then, should parting Seem so sad? |
Shirome
When a woman who had long been in the same house left, on hearing that her parents in the province of Mino were unwell.
今はとて立帰ゆくふるさとの不破の関路に都忘るな
| ima Fa tote taikaFeriyuku Furusato no Fuwa no sekidi ni miyako wasuruna |
“Now is the time,” you say Getting up to leave for Your home on The roads past the barrier of Fuwa, Don’t forget the capital! |
Fujiwara no Kiyotada (? – 958)
藤原清正
When Lord Tachibana no Tamenaka left to become Governor of Michinoku, this was presented from pantry of the Grand Empress Dowager, without any mention of who had sent it.
東路のはるけき道を行かへりいつかとくべき下紐の関
| adumadi no Farukeki miti wo yukikaFeri ituka tokubeki sitaFimo no seki |
On Eastern paths So distant Will you go, and then return When, indeed, will you undo The barrier of Shitahimo – my under-belt again? |
Anonymous
On the first day of the Eighth Month, after His Majesty, Retired Emperor Kazan had given me a bow, and the day when I had to depart was delayed, as if to say, ‘When is it that you’re really off?’ His Majesty said:
言へばあり言はねば苦しわかれぢを
| iFeba ari iFaneba kurusi wakaredi wo |
When I say, ‘Farewell’, you linger on, but To leave it unsaid, a painful Parting, it would be… |
And I sadly replied:
そのほどゝだにいかできこえじ
| sono Fodo to dani ika de kikoezi |
If only the appointed date, I could, Somehow, leave unmentioned… |
When Tadasada, the Governor of Inaba, left for his province:
別れても立ち歸るべき仲なれどいなば戀しと思ふべきかな
| wakaretemo tatikaFerubeki naka naredo inaba koFisi to omoFubeki kana |
Though we do part, and Back must go All that was between us, yet When you are gone to Inaba, fondly Indeed, will you rest in my thoughts. |
At about the time I was made Governor of Michinoku, and was about to withdraw from court, as the pine torches were late in being lit, Middle Captain Michinobu (with Sanekata) said:
松まつほどぞ久しかりける
| matu matu Fodo zo Fisasikarikeru | Awaiting, our pining time Has been long, indeed… |
And Kodaigimi:
みちのくにほど遠ければ武隈の
| mitinoku ni Fodo towokereba takekuma no | For Michinoku Is faraway as The pine of Takekuma! |
In reply to what was written by the Gentleman-in-Waiting to the Lay Priest upon a silver water-horn, when I was to go down to Usa.
むすぶ手の別れとおもふにいとゞしくこのみづゝのに袖ぞ濡れける
| musubu te no wakare to omoFu ni itodosiku kono midutuno ni sode zo nurekeru |
Our clasped hands Parting, were in my thoughts, so Certain it was that This water-horn would Soak my sleeves. |