A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the reign of the Kanpyō emperor.
吹風や春立ち来ぬと告げつらん枝にこもれる花咲きにけり
| Fuku kaze ya Faru tatikinu to tuketuran eda ni komoreru Fana sakinikeri | Is it the blowing breeze that Spring’s arrival does Announce? For once tightly closed upon the branch Blossom has bloomed. |
Anonymous
When Princess Katsura had said ‘Catch some fireflies,’ and one of the boys had them wrapped up in the sleeves of his jacket.
つつめどもかくれぬ物は夏虫の身よりあまれる思ひなりけり
| tutumedomo kakurenu mono Fa natumusi no mi yori amareru omoFinarikeri | Wrapped up, yet Unconcealable are The summer insects: Their bodies bringing an excess Of passion’s fires. |
Anonymous
When she had been living with Prince Motonaga for some time, as an amusement the Prince tied up a box with something in it with his under-belt and, saying he would be back for it, left it lying about somewhere; after he had gone out, she was abducted and hidden away by Prince Tsune’akira, and it was only after many days and months had gone by that she returned to her former house, and sent the box, with this to Prince Motonaga.
あけてだに何にかは見む水の江の浦島の子を思ひやりつつ
| akete dani nani ni ka Fa mimu mizu no e no urasima no ko wo omoFiyaritutu |
Even should I open it What is it that I might see? By the waters’ edge The lad from Urashima Is ever in my thoughts… |
Nakatsukasa
中務
When she was alone, an enquiry arrived from someone as to how she was, so she attached this to a morning glory and sent it to him.
夕暮のさびしき物は朝顔の花を頼める宿にぞ有りける
| yuFugure no sabisiki mono Fa asagaFo no Fana wo tanomeru yado ni zo arikeru |
The evening is So lonely: A morning glory Bloom alone is trustworthy At my house! |
Anonymous