ひんがしの国にわがをれば朝日さすはこやの山の影となりにき
| hingashi no kuni ni wa ga oreba asahi sasu hakoya no yama no kage to nariniki | In eastern Lands do I dwell, but when The morning sun shines Upon distant Gushe Mountain[i] Its shadow falls upon me. |
681
[i] Mount Gushe 姑射山 (Jp. koya no yama) is a mountain in Shanxi 山西 in northern China, which was said to be the dwelling place of immortals. Here, Sanetomo is using it as a euphemism for the imperial palace in Kyoto and, by association the emperor.
Autumn Moon
Left (Tie)
しらつゆのそこにひかりはやどれどもとまらでぞゆくあきのつきかげ
| shiratsuyu no soko ni hikari wa yadoredomo tomarade zo yuku aki no tsukikage | At silver dewdrops Base its light Does lodge, yet Never stays, but departs— The autumn moonlight. |
Fujiwara no Kakena
9
Right
あきのつきこのしたなべてあかければこのもかのものかげだにもせず
| aki no tsuki ko no shita nabete akakereba kono mo kano mo no kage dani mo sezu | When the autumn moon Aligns beneath the trees So bright, Each and every one Casts no shadow at all. |
Miyaji no Sukeon
10
From the poetry contest in 1500 rounds.
見ぬ人をまつの木かげの苔むしろ猶敷島ややまとなでしこ
| minu hito o matsu no kokage no kokemushiro nao shikishima ya yamato nadeshiko | For a man unseen She pines in the shadow of the trees On a mossy bed for Her coverlet, the isles that make Yamato – a pink! |
Kūnaikyō, in service to Former Emperor Gotoba
At around the the time the Kanpyō Emperor took Holy Orders, ladies were only permitted to serve him from beyond his curtains, and being unable to approach him closely, she wrote this and fastened it to his screen.
立ちよらは影踏む許近けれど誰かなこその関をすゑけん
| tatiyoraba kage Fumu bakari tikakeredo tare ka nakoso no seki o suweken |
If I were to approach, I would simply step upon your shadow; I am so close, yet Who is it Nakoso – Come not – That barrier has placed between us? |
The Kohachijō Miyasudokoro 小八条御息所
[Minamoto no Sadako 源貞子]
