On the spirit of reminiscence, brought on by snow.
そま山やこずゑにをもるゆきをれにたえぬなげきの身をくだくらん
| soma yama ya kozue ni omoru yuki ore ni taenu nageki no mi o kudakuran |
On the timber mountain Treetops weighted down With snow do break– Unable to endure this grief, My breast shall shatter. |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
From the poetry contest in 1500 rounds.
あれわたる秋の庭こそあはれなれましてきえなん露のゆふぐれ
| arewataru aki no niwa koso aware nare mashite kienan tsuyu no yûgure |
All unkempt and overgrown Is this autumn garden, yet It moves me so– Just about to vanish Is the dew this evening. |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
When he was considerably over eighty, he was commanded to compose a hundred poem sequence, so he composed this and presented it.
しめをきていまやとおもふ秋山のよもぎがもとにまつむしのなく
| shime okite ima ya to omou aki yama no yomogi ga moto ni matsumushi no naku | ‘Tis there I’ll rest– And wonder if now is the time– Upon a mount in autumn Beneath a mugwort patch Pining, the crickets cry. |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
In the Autumn he became sunk in sickness and left the world; in the Autumn of the following year, on the tenth day of the Ninth Month the moon was shining with not a cloud in the sky, so he composed:
おもひきやわかれし秋にめぐりあひて又もこのよの月をみんとは
| omoiki ya wakareshi aki ni meguri aite mata mo kono yo no tsuki o min to wa |
Can I recall it? The Autumn that I departed Has come around again; Once more, within this world The moon to see… |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
When he presented a hundred poem sequence to retired Emperor Sutoku.
いかにして袖にひかりのやどるらん雲井の月はへだてゝし身を
| ika ni shite sode ni hikari no yadoruran kumoi no tsuki wa hedateteshi mi o |
O, why Should the light upon my sleeves Find lodging? For the cloud-dwelling moon Is far from me now… |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
In the first year of Eiji (1141) as the time of [Emperor Sutoku’s] abdication drew near, Toshinari sat up all night gazing at the moon.
わすれじよわするなとだにいひてまし雲井の月の心ありせば
| wasureji yo wasuru na to dani iitemashi kumoi no tsuki no kokoro ariseba |
Never shall I forget you! And Never forget me–is all that I would say, If the cloud-dwelling moon But had a heart… |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
On the showers of early summer, in a hundred poem sequence of reminiscences.
さみだれはまやのゝきばのあまそゝきあまりなるまでぬるゝ袖かな
| samidare wa maya no nokiba no ama sosoki amari naru made nururu sode kana |
The early summer rain From the eaves of this hut Pours in rivulets- Too much by far, for My soaking sleeves. |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
From a hundred poem sequence at the same house.
てる月も雲のよそにぞゆきめぐる花ぞこのよのひかりなりける
| teru tsuki mo kumo no yoso ni zo yuki meguru hana zo kono yo no hikari narikeru |
The shining moon Beyond the clouds Makes its way; ‘Tis blossom that to this world Give light. |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
From the Poetry Contest a the home of the Lay-Priest and former Regent and Grand Minister.
春くればなをこのよこそしのばるれいつかはかゝる花をみるべき
| haru kureba nao kono yo koso shinobarure itsu ka wa kakaru hana o mirubeki |
When spring is here, Once again this world I do recall with longing; O, when such flowers Shall I see again? |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
A blossom poem, composed in a hundred poem sequence after leaving the world.
いまはわれよしのゝ山の花をこそやどの物とも見るべかりけれ
| ima wa ware yoshino no yama no hana o koso yado no mono tomo mirubekarikere |
Now I, Yoshino mountain’s Blooms As my dwelling’s I would see. |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成