Sweet flags
五月雨に水まさるらしあやめぐさうれ葉かくれてかる人のなき
samidare ni mizu masarurashi ayamegusa ureba kakurete karu hito no naki | The summer rain has Raised the waters high, it seems, for The sweet flags’ Leaf tips are hidden, and There’s no one to reap them. |

Topic unknown.
あし引の山郭公けふとてやあやめの草のねにたててなく
asiFiki no yamaFototogisu keFu tote ya ayame no kusa no ne ni tatete naku | Leg wearying, The mountain cuckoo, Knowing today, perhaps, On the sweet-flag Roots does perch and sing. |
A composition by the Engi Emperor [Daigo]
Left
なつの日のくるるもしらず鳴く蝉をとひもしてしか何ごとかうき
natsu no hi no kururu mo shirazu naku semi o toi mo shiteshika nani goto ka uki | Of the summer sun’s Setting unaware are The singing cicadas: Had I but asked them of it, What would they despise? |
70
Right
あやめ草いくらの五月あひくらむ来る年毎にわかく見ゆらむ
ayamegusa ikura no satsuki aikuramu kuru toshigoto ni wakaku miyuramu | O, sweet flags! In how many Fifth Months Have you come to meet me? With every turning year You seem younger to me! |
71
By the Major Captain, when the Kōshin Rite fell upon the fifth Day of the Fifth Month.
夜のほどのつまとのみなるあやめをもまだ見ぬほどはいつかとぞ思ふ
yo no Fodo no tuma to nomi naru ayame wo mo mada minu Fodo Fa ituka to zo omoFu |
All night long To the eaves wedded is A sweet-flag, Still unseen, But for how long, on this the fifth, I wonder? |
In reply, the Major Captain:
祝ふなる岩のあやめも今日よりは千代のはじめに引きはじむべき
iFaFu naru iFa no ayame mo keFu yori Fa tiyo no Fazime ni FikiFazimubeki |
All good things, I pray, for This rock-top sweet flag: From this day forth Let a thousand years of fortune Begin to flow. |