On the conception of autumn turning cold early, when frost falls in the Ninth Month.
虫のねもほのかに成りぬ花すすき秋のすゑばに霜や置くらん
mushi no ne mo
honoka ni narinu
hanasususki
aki no sueba ni
shimo ya okuran | The insects’ cries, too,
Have grown faint—
Upon the miscanthus’
Autumn fronds
Might frost have fallen? |
Composed when there was much disturbance in the world.
朝な朝な鹿の柵む萩がえの末葉の露のありがたのよや
asana asana
sika no sikaramu
Fagi ga e no
suweba no tuyu no
arigata no yo ya |
Every morning
The stag is tangled in
Bush clover branches,
Dew upon the leaf-tips –
Such is the length of life… |
Zōki
増基
真菰草高瀬の淀に茂れども末葉も見えぬ五月雨のころ
makomogusa
takase no yodo ni
shigeredomo
sueba mo mienu
samidare no koro |
The rushes
Where the Yodo meets Takase
Are lush, indeed, yet
The fronds are hidden
In this time of showers… |
Taikenmon’in horikawa
待賢門院堀河
'Simply moving and elegant'
