He had paid a visit to the house of an acquaintance where there was a plum tree. ‘When it blooms, I will certainly invite you to come,’ he was told, but when no letter arrived…
梅花今は盛りになりぬらんたのめし人のをとづれもせぬ
| mume no Fana ima Fa sakarini narinuran tanomesi Fito no wotodure mo senu | The plum blossom Is now profusely Blooming, it seems, but From the man I trusted Comes no note, at all… |
The Suzakuin Prince and Minister for War [Atsukata/Atsumoto]
When he was together with the Cloistered Emperor [Uda], gazing the Yoshino waterfall.
何時の間に降り積もるらんみ吉野の山の峡より崩れ落つる雪
| itu no ma ni Furitumoruran miyosino no yama no kaFi yori kudure’oturu yuki | How swiftly It does seem to fall From fair Yoshino’s Mountain passes: The snow comes a’tumbling down. |
Minamoto no Noboru
When he had begun to live with the Katsura Princess, and felt that she did not wish to see him.
人知れず物思頃の我が袖は秋の草葉に劣らざりけり
| Fito sirezu mono’omoFu koro no wa ga sode Fa aki no kusaba ni otorazarikeri | When unknown to all I am sunk in gloomy thought My sleeves To blades of grass in autumn Lack nothing! |
Prince Sadakazu
When the Kyōgoku Lady of the Bedchamber became a nun and, saying she wished for him to administer her vows, came over to the Ninna Temple.
ひとりのみながめて年をふる里の荒れたる様をいかに見るらん
| Fitori nomi nagamete tosi wo furu sato no aretaru sama wo ika ni miruran | All alone Have I gazed these years Past upon my retreat’s Ruined appearance, but How must it appear within your sight? |
Prince Atsumi
When a man who was Assistant Governor of Kii ceased to come to call, she sent this to the man’s elder sister to say how heartless this was and the sister sent this in reply, to say how she sympathized.
紀伊国の名草の浜は君なれや事のいふかひ有と聞きつる
| ki no kuni no nagusa no Fama Fa kimi nare ya koto no iFukaFi ari to kikituru | In the land of Ki Might consolation upon Nagusa Beach You find A shell? Saying it has some point Or so I have heard. |
Anonymous