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
Wang Zhaojun 王昭君
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
Cathay Folk 唐人
から国の人にとひてや我がごとく世にすみつかぬたぐひあるやと
karaguni no hito ni toite ya wa ga gotoku yo ni sumitsukanu tagui aru ya to Does the land of Cathay have Folk I could ask? ‘Is there one like me Dissatisfied with living in this world There, perchance?’
Daishin
Waterweed 萍
かきやればたぎちながるるうき草も世をはやくして過ぎぬべらなり
kakiyareba tagichi nagaruru ukikusa mo yo o hayakushite suginuberanari Dragged this way and that, by Rapidly flowing races, For a waterweed, too, The world so swiftly Must pass by.
Toshiyori
Temples 寺
有為の世はけふかあすかのかねの音をあはれいつまできかんとすらん
ui no yo wa kyō ka asu ka no kane no oto o aware itsu made kikan to suran In this mundane world Today and tomorrow, too, The bell tolls on – How long will its melancholy I continue to hear?
Kanemasa
Ancient Estates 故郷
よとともにまさりがほなき身にしあれば古郷人に見えまうきかな
yo to tomo ni masarigaonaki mi ni shi areba furusatobito ni miemauki kana As the world goes by Diminished prospects Have been my lot, so She, who dwells in that ancient estate, Is hard to meet, indeed!
Tadafusa
Ponds 池
世にわびて波たちまちにすぐなれどあその御池にぬさたてまつる
yo ni wabite nami tachimachi ni sugu naredo aso no mi’ike ni nusa tatematsuru All the world’s troubles In sudden waves Arise, yet At the fair pond of Aso Will I make an offering…
Toshiyori
Stones 石
たのめなほ河せの砂としふりてまごふの石とならん世までに
tanome nao kawase no isago toshi furite magō no ishi to naran yo made ni Ever believe in me! Until The sand grains in the river rapids Grow old with passing years, and Over the ages their grandstones do Come into this world!
Nakazane
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