Composed when Princess Nukata went to Ōmi.
三輪山をしかも隠すか雲だにも心あらなも隠さふべしや
| miwayama wo sikamo kakusu ka kumo dani mo kokoro ara na mo kakusapubesi ya |
Mount Miwa, Why are you concealed? Had the clouds but Sense, I wish They would hide you not! |
Princess Nukata
額田王
熟田津に船乗りせむと月待てば潮もかなひぬ今は漕ぎ出でな
| nigitatu ni puna norisemu to tuki mateba sipo mo kanapinu ima pa kogi’ide na |
From Nigitatsu Would we set sail, and Did await the moon, but With the tides against us Now must we go a’rowing! |
Princess Nukata
額田王
A poem composed on the occasion of an Imperial Visit to the hot springs of Kii province.
莫囂円隣之大相七兄爪謁気我が背子がい立たせりけむ厳橿が本
| sidumarisi uranami sawaku wa ga seko ga itataserikemu itu kasi ga moto |
Quietened Have the rowdy breakers in the bay; My dear one Stood, no doubt, At the foot of the sacred oak! |
Princess Nukata
額田王
When His Majesty, the Emperor [Tenchi], asked the Grand Minister, Lord Fujiwara [no Kamatari], which was superior: the myriad hued flowers of spring or the thousand leaves of autumn, Princess Nukata settled the matter with this poem.
冬こもり 春さり來れば 鳴かずありし 鳥も來鳴きぬ 咲かずありし 花も咲けれど 山を茂み 入りても取らず 草深み 取りても見ず 秋山の 木の葉を見ては 黄葉をば 取りてぞ偲ふ 靑きをば 置きてぞ嘆く そこし恨めし 秋山ぞ吾は
| puyu kömori paru sarikureba nakazu arisi töri mo ki nakinu sakazarisi pana mo sakeredö yama wo simi irite mo torazu kusa pukami torite mo mizu akiyama nö ko nö pa wo mite pa momiti wo ba torite zö sinopu awoki wo ba okite zö nagëku sökö si uramesi akiyama zö are pa |
Buried by winter, When spring comes to pass, The silent Birds burst into song; The bloomless Flowers burst out, but The mountains are so lush, One cannot make one’s way; The grasses are so thick, An outstretched hand is lost; On an autumn mountain, One sees trees’ leaves: The yellow leaves, To take for a keepsake; Green ones To leave behind in sorrow, Though I hate to do it: It’s the autumn mountains for me! |