aki fukaki kiku no kakine no tsukikage ni shimo ka to tsuyu zo kiekarikeru
In the depths of autumn On the chrysanthemums by the brushwood fence In the moonlight, The dewdrops, almost as frost, Has vanished and returned again…[i]
The moon in winter—the late Major Counsellor[i] had me compose it one year, as a poem for Kitano.[ii]
秋の色にみだれし露の影よりも枯野の霜にすめるよの月
aki no iro ni midareshi tsuyu no kage yori mo kareno no shimo ni sumeru yo no tsuki
The hues of autumn, Confused within the dewdrops Are bettered by A withered, frosty field, where rests The moon upon a night so clear.[iii]
[i] Her husband, Minamoto no Michitomo 源通具 (1171-1227).
[ii] Probably meaning she composed this for a poetry match or meet which was due to be held at the Kitano Tenmangū 北野天満宮 shrine in the north of the capital.
[iii] See: The cold, clear moon above the grasses. はなにおく露にやどりし影よりもかれのの月はあはれなりけり hana ni oku / tsuyu ni yadorishi / kage yori mo / kareno no tsuki wa / aware narikeri ‘Fallen on the flowers / The lodging dewdrops / Sight is bettered by / The moon above a withered field: / ‘Tis more moving by far.’ Saigyō (Gyokuyōshū VI: 903)
sayo fukete inari no yama no sugi no ha ni shiroku mo shimo no okinikeru kana
Brief night breaks O’er Inari Mountain, and The cedar needles Turn white with frost A’falling![i]
629
[i] See: Drinking vessels [mizunomi]. いなり山しるしのすぎの年ふりてみつのみやしろ神さびにけり inariyama / shirushi no sugi no / toshi furite / mitsu no miyashiro / kamisabinikeri ‘Mount Inari’s / Symbolic cedars / Carry years’ weight: / The three sacred shrines / Are venerable, indeed!’ Bishop Yūkei (Senzaishū XVIII: 1178); and: On warblers on the road to the barrier, while at the Poetry Office. 鶯のなけどもいまだふる雪に杉の葉しろき逢坂の山 uguisu no / nakedomo imada / furu yuki ni / sugi no ha shiroki / ausaka no yama ‘The warbler / Has sung, yet still / Falling snow / Turns white the cedar needles / On the mount of Meeting Hill.’ The Senior Retired Emperor (Shinkokinshū I: 18)
After a certain lady had set off up to the capital, I composed these and, attaching them to a letter, had it sent to her.
夜をさむみひとりね覚の床さえてわが衣手に霜ぞ置きける
yo o samumi hitori nezame no toko saete wa ga koromode ni shimo zo okikeru
Chill the night, so On waking alone My bed is frozen, and On my sleeves Frost has fallen, indeed![i]
597
[i] See: Topic unknown. 夜をさむみねざめてきけばをしぞなく払ひもあへず霜やおくらん yo o samumi / nezamete kikeba / oshi zo naku / harai mo aezu / shimo ya okuran ‘Chill the night and / On waking, I hear / A mandarin drake a’crying / For he cannot brush away / The fallen frost, it seems.’ Anonymous (Gosenshū VIII: 478)
shinagadori inano no hara no sasamakura makura no shimo ya yadoru tsukikage
Upon waterbird-filled Inano Plain, with A pillow of bamboo— And the frost upon my pillow is The moonlight’s lodging…[i]
583
[i] See: Topic unknown. しながどりゐなのをゆけばありまやま夕ぎり立ちぬやどはなくして shinagadori / inano o yukeba / arimayama / yūgiri tachinu / yado wa nakushite ‘Through waterbird-filled / Inano I go, as / Upon Arima Mountain / Evening mist has risen, and / Me without a lodging…’ Anonymous (Shinkokinshū X: 910)
sode makura shimo oku toko no koke no ue ni akasu bakari no sayo no nakayama
With my sleeve for my pillow, and Frost falling on my bed Atop the moss, Swiftly breaks the dawn At Sayo-no-Nakayama.[i]
582
[i] See: On a storm at one’s lodgings on a journey, for the Iwashimizu Poetry Match. 岩がねのとこに嵐をかたしきてひとりやねなんさよの中山 iwa ga ne no / toko ni arashi o / katashikite / hitori ya nenan / sayo no Nakayama ‘At the crags’ foot / Lies my bed with the storm wind / Alone, spread upon me— / Lonely, must I sleep? / At Sayo-no-Nakayama…’ Lord Ari’ie (Shinkokinshū X: 962)
