言に出でて云はばゆゆしみ朝顔の穂には咲き出ぬ恋もするかも
koto ni idete
ipaba yuyusimi
asagapo no
po ni pa sakidenu
kopi mo suru kamo |
If in words
I were to speak out, ill-starred it would be, so
As a bellflower
Bud I will bloom not – that
Is how my love shall be! |
During the Tenryaku era, when people had gathered at Ise’s house, to say that she was coming.
時雨つゝふりにし宿の言の葉は掻集むれど止らざりけり
siguretutu
Furinisi yado no
koto no Fa Fa
kakiatumuredo
tomarazarikeri |
Ever does the drizzle
Fall at my home –
My leaves of words
I sweep all together, but
Never does it end. |
Nakatsukasa (?912-?991)
中務
七夕のなかの緒を絶えぬ秋ごとに逢ふ言の葉ぞ奉りつる
tanabata no
naka no o taenu
akigoto ni
au koto no ha zo
tatematsuritsuru |
The Weaver Maid’s
Zither string snaps
Every autumn, so
To match her, words
Are what we offer. |
あにもあらぬおのが身のから人の子の言も尽さじ我れも寄りなむ
ani mo aranu
ono ga mi no kara
hito no ko no
koto mo tsukusaji
ware mo yorinamu |
There is nothing to
An inconsequential girl like me;
As all the others,
I’ll not use all my words, but
I, too, will yield to him! |
今宵かく心づくしの言の葉や秋をとどむる門司の関守
koyoi kaku
kokorozukushi no
koto no ha ya
aki o todomuru
moji no sekimori |
This night
I have drained my heart
Of words;
Autumn longing halted by
The barrier at Moji. |
Kenshō
'Simply moving and elegant'