When Minamoto no Sane left her, saying that he was going to take a hot spring cure in Tsukushi, she composed this at Yamazaki, regretting their parting.
いのちだに心にかなふ物ならばなにか別のかなしからまし
| inoti wo dani kokoro ni kanaFu mono naraba nani ka wakare no kanasikaramasi | If life at least As we wished Would go Why, then, should parting Seem so sad? |
Shirome
Composed after the passing of the Shichijō Empress.
沖つ浪 荒れのみまさる 宮の内は 年へて住みし 伊勢の海人も 舟流したる 心地して よらむ方なく かなしきに 涙の色の 紅は 我らが中の 時雨にて 秋のもみぢと 人びとは おのが散りぢり 別れなば たのむかげなく なりはてて とまるものとは 花薄 君なき庭に 群れ立ちて 空をまねかば 初雁の なきわたりつつ よそにこそ見め
| oki tu nami are nomi masaru miya no uti Fa tosi Fete sumisi ise no ama mo Fune nagasitaru kokotisite yoramu kata naku kanasiki ni namida no iro no kurenawi Fa warera ga naka no sigure nite aki no momidi to Fitobito Fa ono ga tiridiri wakarenaba tanomu kage naku nariFatete tomaru mono to Fa Fanasusuki kimi naki niwa ni muretatite sora wo manekaba Fatukari no nakiwataritutu yoso ni koso mime | The waves in the offing Are simply wild beyond all measure Within the palace The passing years where dwelt A fisher-girl in Ise Set adrift within her boat, That’s how I feel, with No place to reach In my grief My tears’ hue is Scarlet: Our connection Has turned to showers, With the autumn’s scarlet leaves Folk all Scattering everywhere, and If this is a final parting Our support is gone and In the end Those remaining, as The fronds of miscanthus In the grounds without my Lady Grow in wild abandon, and If they should beckon to the skies, The first geese, Crying as they pass Might gaze on here from afar… |
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
恋しきに侘びてたましひまどひなば空しきからの名にやのこらむ
| koFisiki ni wabite tamasiFi madoFinaba munasiki kara no na ni ya nokoramu | If, for love of you and Suffering, my soul Should wander in confusion, As an empty husk— Would that be my reputation? |
Anonymous
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
わりなくもねても覚めても恋しきか心をいづちやらばわすれん
| warinaku mo nete mo samete mo koFisiki ka kokoro o iduti yaraba wasuren | Beyond reason Both sleeping and awake Am I in love with you? Whither should my heart Turn to forget you? |
Anonymous
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
わびぬればしひて忘れむと思へども夢てふものぞ人だのめなる
| wabinureba siFite wasuremu to omoFedomo yume teFu mono zo Fito danome naru | I suffered, so To make myself forget you I did think, yet Dreams are such that They raise one’s hopes… |
Fujiwara no Okikaze
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
しぬる命いきもやすると心みに玉のをばかりあはむといはなむ
| sinuru inoti iki mo ya suru to kokoromi ni tama no wo bakari aFamu to iFanamu | I have died for love of you, but Might life return? Try, if only as A fragile jewelled thread, and Say that you will meet with me! |
Fujiwara no Okikaze
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.
君こふる涙の床にみちぬれば身をつくしとぞ我はなりぬる
| kimi koFuru namida no toko ni mitinureba mi wo tukusi to zo ware Fa narinuru | Loving you With tears my bed Has completely filled, so A channel buoy, exhausted, Have I become. |
Fujiwara no Okikaze