Left
さくはなのちりつつうかぶみづのおもにいかでうき草ねざしそめけむ
| saku hana no chiritsutsu ukabu mizu no omo ni ikade ukikusa nezashi somekemu | Blossom blooming and Ever scattering, and floating Upon the surface of the water, So why might the waterweed Begin to put down roots? |
76
Right
まつひとはつねならなくにほととぎすおもひのほかになかばうからむ
| matsu hito wa tsune naranaku ni hototogisu omoi no hoka ni nakaba ukaramu | The one awaiting you is Ever changing, O, cuckoo, but If, my longing you should not meet With your song, how I will hate you! |
77
Left
冬の池のうへはこほりてとぢたるをいかでか月のそこにすむらん
| fuyu no ike no ue wa kōrite tojitaru o ikade ka tsuki no soko ni sumuramu | A winter pond is Frozen above and Completely sealed, so Why is it that the moon Seems so clear upon its bed? |
Tomonori
137
Right
ふゆさむみみのもにかくるますかがみとくも我なむ老いまどふべく
| fuyu samumi mi no mo ni kakuru masukagami toku mo warenamu oimadoubeku | In winter’s chill Upon the water’s surface rests A clear glass, but Long since did I break it— Surely confused in my old age! |
138
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the reign of the Kanpyō emperor.
水の面にあやをりみだる春雨や山のみどりをなべて染むらん
| mizu no omo ni ayaori midaru harusame ya yama no midori o nabete somuran | Upon the water’s surface A confusing pattern paints The rain of spring— Will it now the mountains All dye with green, I wonder? |
Ise