Shrines 社
ゆふだすきかけてたのめど我がためはねぎごときかぬ社なりけり
yūdasuki
kakete tanomedo
wa ga tame wa
negi gotoki kanu
yashiro narikeri | Mulberry cord garlands
I hang and plead, yet
For me, they
Cannot be as a priest
At a shrine… |
Daishin
Shrines 社
たのみては久しくなりぬいそのかみふるのやしろのもとのちかひを
tanomite wa
hisashikunarinu
iso no kami
furu no yashiro no
moto no chikai o | I will place my trust
In eternal
Isonokami’s
Ancient shrine’s
First vow! |
Higo
Shrines 社
つかねつつたてならべたるあしやさはみわのやしろのしるしなるらん
tsukanetsutsu
tatenarabetaru
ashi ya sa wa
miwa no yashiro no
shirushi naruran | Bundling up
The straight-standing rows of
Rushes – will they
From the shrine of Miwa
Blessings bestow, I wonder? |
Kanemasa
Shrines 社
神がきやみむろの山の木がくれにも見えまがはぬはあけの玉がき
kamigaki ya
mimuro no yama no
kogakure ni mo
miemagawanu wa
ake no tamagaki | O, sacred wall!
Upon Mimuro Mountain,
Even hidden amongst the trees,
Unmistakable is
The holy scarlet fence! |
Tadafusa
Shrines 社
いのること七のをやしろかうかうとことあはせよく口ばしるなり
inoru koto
nana no oyashiro
kaukau to
koto awase yoku
kuchibashiru nari | The prayers by
The seven guardians are
A clamour,
Words overlapping as
They gabble heedlessly on! |
Toshiyori
Shrines 社
ちはやふるいづものもりにみわすゑてねぎぞかけつる杠葉ちらすな
chihayafuru
izumo no mori ni
miwa suete
negi zo kaketsuru
momiji chirasu na | Mighty,
The holy grove of Izumo, where
Preparing sacred wine
The priests make ready –
O, scatter not, scarlet leaves! |
Nakazane
Shrines 社
杉むらにしるしをかけてうぢ人のひかるばかりにみがくたまがき
sugimura ni
shirushi o kakete
ujibito no
hikaru bakari ni
migaku tamagaki | In a cedar grove
Hung with blessings,
The shrine folks’
Simple shining
Bedecks the jewelled fences. |
Akinaka
Temples 寺
法の声入あひのかねにひびきあひてあはれつきせぬふるき山寺
nori no koe
iriai no kane ni
hibiki aite
aware tsukisenu
furuki yamadera | Voices chanting sutras, and
The sunset bell
Resound together with
Limitless compassion at
An ancient mountain temple. |
Daishin
Temples 寺
木の葉ちり鹿なく秋の山寺はいりあひのかねの音ぞさびしき
ko no ha chiri
shika naku aki no
yamadera wa
iriai no kane no
oto zo sabishiki | Leaves scattering from the trees, and
Stags crying – in autumn
At a mountain temple
The sunset bell’s
Toll is lonely, indeed! |
Higo
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
'Simply moving and elegant'