When Spring Arrives in the Old Year 旧年立春
年すぐる山べなこめそ朝がすみさこそは春と友にたつとも
| toshi suguru yamabe na kome so asagasumi sa koso wa haru to tomo ni tatsu tomo | The year’s passage shows On the mountain slopes – enfold them not, O, morning haze! For truly, it is as spring’s Companion that you should rise… |
Akinaka
Composed when he had gone to a temple in the mountains.
宿りして春の山辺にねたる夜は夢の内にも花ぞちりける
| yadori site Faru no yamabe ni netaru yo Fa yume no uti ni mo Fana zo tirikeru | Lodging here Upon a mountainside in springtime, Sleeping at night Even my dreams are full Of scattered blossom. |
Tsurayuki
A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the Kanpyō period.
霞立春の山辺はとをけれど吹くる風は花の香ぞする
| kasumi tatu Faru no yamabe Fa towokeredo Fukikuru kaze Fa Fana no ka zo suru | Hazes rise Round the mountains’ sides, So far away, and yet The gusting breeze comes Bearing the scent of blossom. |
Ariwara no Motokata
When he had gone to the northern hills to view the blossom, he sent this to the residence of the Un’rin-in Prince.[1]
いざけふは春の山辺にまじりなむ暮れなばなげの花の影かは
| iza keFu Fa Faru no yamabe ni mazirinamu kurenaba nage no Fana no kage ka Fa | So, on this day Into the springtime mountains Let us tread! For even should dusk fall, brief Would the blossoms glow be? Surely not! |
Sosei
[1] Imperial Prince Tsuneyasu 常康親王 (?-869), the seventh son of Emperor Ninmyō.
While on the path across the Shiga Mountains, he met a large number of women, and later composed this and sent it to them.
あづさゆみはるの山辺をこえくれば道もさりあへず花ぞちりける
| adusa yumi Faru no yamabe o koekureba miti mo sariaFezu Fana zo tirikeru |
A catalpa bow When the springtime mountains I traverse I cannot pass along the way So many flowers have fallen! |
Tsurayuki
A poem composed for the Empress’ Poetry Competition during the Kanpyō Period.
み吉野の山べにさけるさくら花雪かとのみぞあやまたれける
| miyosino no yamabe ni sakeru sakurabana yuki ka to nomi zo ayamatarekeru | In Yoshino In the mountains, the flowering Cherry blossoms: Simply for snow I did mistake them! |
Ki no Tomonori
Composed as a Spring Poem
おもふどち春の山邊に打群れてそこともいはぬ旅寢してしか
| omoFudoti Faru no yamabe ni utimurete soko tomo iFanu tabine sitesika |
My friends, In springtime in the mountain meadows Did we gather, Heedless of our place, Wanted we to sleep out on our trip! |
The Monk Sosei
素性