When he was going toward the eastlands, he saw the smoke rising over Asama and composed:
しなのなるあさまのたけに立けぶりをちこち人のみやはとがめね
| shinano naru asama no take ni tatsu keburi ochikochi hito no mi ya wa togamene |
In Shinano From the high peak of Asama Smoke rises; The folk about See, yet find no fault, I wonder why… |
Ariwara no Narihira
在原業平
On coming up from Tsukushi, after finishing his posting as Governor General.
こゝにありてつくしやいづこ白雲のたなびく山のにしにあるらし
| koko ni arite tsukushi ya izuko shira kumo no tanabiku yama no nishi ni arurashi |
Here I am, yet Where might Tsukushi be? Clouds of white Flutter ’cross the mountains In the west-’tis where it lies, I’d say. |
Major Councillor [Ōtomo no] Tabito
大伴旅人
Composed when in China.
いざこどもはや日のもとへおほとものみつのはま松まちこひぬらん
| iza kodomo haya hi no moto e ōtomo no mitsu no hamamatsu machi koinuran |
Hey boys! Swiftly to the rising sun And Ōtomo’s Pine-covered beach at Mitsu I would return. |
Yamanoue no Okura (660-ca.733)
山上憶良
Written when on a visit to the province of Ise in the tenth month of the twelfth year of Tenpyō (743).
いもにこひわかの松ばらみわたせばしほひのかたにたづなきわたる
| imo ni koi waka no matsubara miwataseba shioi no kata ni tazu nakiwataru |
Thinking of my love, At Matsubara in Waka, As I look out Across the mud-flats A crane’s cry drifts across, and I go weeping on my way. |
Emperor Shōmu (701-756, r. 724-749)
Written in the third month of the third year of Wado (711) when moving from the Fujiwara palace to Nara.
とぶとりのあすかのさとをゝきていなば君があたりはみえずかもあらん
| tobu tori no asuka no sato o okiteinaba kimi ga atari wa miezu kamo aran |
With the flying birds Of Asuka estate Left far behind, My Lord’s resting place Is gone from view, I’d say. |
Empress Genmei (661-721, r. 707-715)
Composed and sent to someone who was going somewhere outside of the capital.
なごりおもふたもとにかねてしられけりわかるゝたびのゆくすゑのつゆ
| nagori omou tamoto ni kanete shirarekeri wakaruru tabi no yukusue no tsuyu |
The sorrow of this parting Is plain upon my sleeves To see; Parting us, your journey Ends in dewfall. |
Prince Kore’akira
When Tachibana no Tadamoto had been seeing someone’s daughter in secret, he sent this to her to tell her he was going far away.
忘るなよほどは雲居になりぬとも空行く月のめぐりあふまで
| wasuru na yo hodo wa kumoi ni narinu tomo sora yuku tsuki no meguri au made |
Forget me not! For though the heavens’ span May part us As the sky-bound moon Circles we shall meet again. |
Tachibana no Tadamoto