Composed saying he would pass the barrier at Meeting Hill at night.
あふ坂の関には人もなかりけりいは井の水のもるにまかせて
| aFusaka no seki ni Fa Fito mo nakarikeri iFawi no midu no moru ni makasete | At Meeting Hill’s Barrier of folk There is no sign— To the water from the rocky spring’s Guarded dripping is it entrusted… |
Hōribe no Narinaka
When he was passing the barrier at Shirakawa on the way to Michinoku.
たよりあらばいかでみやこへつげやらむけふしらかはの関はこえぬと
| tayori araba ikade miyako Fe tuge yaramu keFu sirakaFa no seki Fa koenu to | Had I but a messenger Somehow, to the capital I would send word— That today the Shirakawa Barrier I have passed through… |
Taira no Kanemori
Composed at the Shirakawa Barrier, when he had gone to Michinoku.
宮こをばかすみとともにたちしかどあきかぜぞ吹くしらかはのせき
| miyako woba kasumi to tomo ni tatisikado akikaze zo Fuku sirakaFa no seki | From the capital Together with the haze Did I depart, yet The autumn wind, indeed, is blowing At the Barrier of Shirakawa! |
Monk Nōin
Composed on the moon at dawn on the road to a barrier, while at the Shirakawa residence of the former Uji Grand Minister.
あり明の月もし水にやどりけりこよひはこえじあふさかの関
| ariake no tuki mo simizu ni yadorikeri koyoFi Fa koezi aFusaka no seki | The dawntime Moon within pure water Has lodged; Tonight I’ll not pass The barrier at Meeting Hill. |
Lord Fujiwara no Norinaga
Left
紅葉ばのながるる河をおしなべてせきぞとどむる秋のをしさに
| momijiba no nagaruru kawa o oshinabete seki zo todomuru aki no oshisa ni | Scarlet leaves Flow down the river Everywhere and anywhere, Halting at the fishing weir, All the regrets of autumn… |
35
Right
ちらすなる心のうちまでおのがじしわかるるあきををしみつるかな
| chirasu naru kokoro no uchi made ono ga jishi wakaruru aki o oshimitsuru kana | Made to scatter is My heart of hearts, until, Self-centred, Departing autumn Fills me with regret! |
36
Left
とどむれどいまはかぎりとゆく秋のわりなくをしくおもほゆるかな
| todomuredo ima wa kagiri to yuku aki no warinaku oshiku omohoyuru kana | It has lingered, yet Now is the end, and with Autumn’s leaving Beyond all reason, regret Do I feel! |
27
Right
あふさかのせきのもみぢし心あらばくれてゆくとも秋をとめなん
| ausaka no seki no momijishi kokoro araba kureteyuku to mo aki o tomenan | If at Meeting Hill’s Barrier autumn hues did Fill my heart, then As it passes into dusk I would hold the season here. |
28
Left (Tie)
ふくかぜにとまりもあへずちるときはやへやまぶきのはなもかひなし
| fuku kaze ni tomari mo aezu chiru toki wa yaeyamabuki no hana mo kainashi | The gusting wind Does never cease, so Scattering time has come upon The eightfold kerria Blooms—so little good they are! |
Okikaze
35
Right
をしめどもたちもとまらずゆくはるをなこしのやまのせきもとめなむ
| oshimedomo tachi mo tomarazu yuku haru o nakoshi no yama no seki mo tomenamu | How I regret it, yet Cannot halt the departure of Parting spring— O, that Nakoshi Mountain’s Barrier would hold it! |
Tsurayuki
36
Left
おとはやまおとにききつつあふさかのせきのこなたにひとをまつかな
| otowayama oto ni kikitsutsu ausaka no seki no konata ni hito o matsu kana | As wing-beats in the mountains Do I hear tell: That on Meeting Hill Barrier’s inner side Someone does await me! |
Motokata
29
Right
そのはらやふせやにおふるははきぎのありとてゆけどあはぬきみかな
| sonohara ya fuseya ni ouru hahakigi no ari tote yukedo awanu kimi kana | At Sonohara By the rest-stop grows A sacred tree, they say; I catch a glimpse, yet Cannot meet with you! |
30
Left
人しれずしたにながるる涙川せきとどめなむかげは見ゆると
| hito shirezu shita ni nagaruru namidagawa seki todomenamu kage wa miyuru to | Unknown to all Beneath there flows A river of tears; O, for a dam to halt it, that I could glimpse her face… |
192[1]
Right
もえもあはぬこなたかなたの思ひかな涙の河の中にゆけばか
| moe mo awanu konata kanata no omoi kana namida no kawa no naka ni yukeba ka | Burning, unmatched, are My multitude of Passion’s fires! For into a river of tears Have I plunged? |
Tsurayuki
193
[1] Shokugosenshū XI: 640/Shinsen man’yōshū 227.
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Dowager Empress during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
人しれずしたにながるる涙川せきとどめなむかげは見ゆると
| hito shirezu shita ni nagaruru namidagawa seki todomenamu kage wa miyuru to | Unknown to all Beneath there flows A river of tears; O, for a dam to halt it, that I could glimpse her face… |
Anonymous