Composed when he was on a pilgrimage to worship Kannon at thirty-three places, and saw oil emerging at Tanigumi, in Mino.[1]
よをてらすほとけのしるしありければまだともし火もきえぬなりけり
| yo wo terasu Fotoke no sirusi arikereba mada tomosibi mo kienu narikeri | Shining light upon the world, This Buddha, a sign Does give: As yet, the lanterns Never have gone out! |
Former Archbishop Kakuchū
前大僧正覚忠
[1] This poem was composed at the Kegonji 華厳寺 temple on Mount Tagumi (Tagumisan 谷汲山) in the middle of what is now Gifu 岐阜 prefecture.
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Dowager Empress during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
かりそめの世やたのまれぬ夏の日をなどうつせみのなきくらしつる
| karisome no yo ya tanomarenu natsu no hi o nado utsusemi no nakikurashitsuru | Is this transient World untrustworthy? On a summer day Why does the cicada, an empty shell, Cry the day away? |
Anonymous
おもひやれとはで程ふる五月雨に独やどもる袖の雫を
| omoiyare towade hodo furu samidare ni hitori yado moru sode no shizuku o | Lost in thoughts of you, Time without a visit passes by As a summer shower In my lonely home leaks Droplets on my sleeves… |
Lady Higo
25
In reply
世とともにさてのみこそはすぐししか思ひしりぬや袖の雫を
| yo to tomo ni sate nomi koso wa sugushishika omoishirinu ya sode no shizuku o | Together with the world All stayed the same As it passed by; Could I be ignorant of The droplets on your sleeves? |
The Middle Counsellor
26
かきながすみくづになれるいきのををむすびとどむる世こそつらけれ
| kakinagasu mikuzu ni nareru iki no o o musubitodomuru yo koso tsurakere | Swept away as Flotsam is my sorry Thread of life, Tied tight about This, oh so cruel world! |
Akinaka