Sent to someone in the capital to say he was going down to Mimasaka around the Seventh Month.
宮こをば秋とゝもにぞたちそめしよどの河ぎりいくよへだてつ
miyako o ba
aki to tomo ni zo
tachisomeshi
yodo no kawagiri
iku yo hedatetsu |
From the capital,
Along with Autumn’s
First days I left;
The river mists upon the Yodo,
Are now several nights away. |
Former Middle Councillor [Ōe no] Masafusa
In reply:
とゞまらんことは心にかなへどもいかにかせまし秋のさそふを
todomaran
koto wa kokoro ni
kanaedomo
ika ni ka semashi
aki no sasou o |
To stay would be
My heart’s
Dearest wish, yet
What I am to do?
Invited along by Autumn… |
Sanekata
When Sanekata was going down to Michinoku, he composed this as a parting gift.
わかれぢはいつもなげきのたえせぬにいとゞかなしき秋のゆふぐれ
wakareji wa
itsumo nageki no
taesenu ni
itodo kanashiki
aki no yugure |
The path of parting
Is ever one of grief
Unending, though
How much more sad
On this Autumn evening. |
Middle Councillor Taka’ie
When the Monk Jōjin went to China, his mother composed.
もろこしもあめのしたにぞありときくてる日のもとをわすれざらなん
morokoshi mo
ame no shita ni zo
ari to kiku
teru hi no moto o
wasurezaranan |
Even Cathay
Lies beneath the heavens
Or so I’m told;
The land where the blazing sun arises,
Forget not. |
The Mother of the Monk Jōjin
Topic unknown.
わかれてのゝちもあひみんとおもへどもこれをいづれの時とかはしる
wakarete no
nochi mo aimin to
omoedomo
kore o izure no
toki to ka wa shiru |
Our parting
Gone and I would meet you more
I feel, yet
When might that
Time come, I wonder? |
Ōe no Chisato
大江千里
To someone who was going down to Michinoku.
見てだにもあかぬ心をたまぼこのみちのおくまで人のゆくらん
mite dani mo
akanu kokoro o
tamaboko no
michi no oku made
hito no yukuran |
Such a brief meeting
Leaves our hearts unsated;
A jewelled spear
On the road into the heartlands, as far as Michinoku,
Why must you go… |
Tsurayuki
貫之
Sent with some journey clothes to someone going into the country.
秋ぎりのたつたびごろもをきて見よつゆばかりなるかたみなりとも
akigiri no
tatsu tabigoromo
okite miyo
tsuyu bakari naru
katami nari tomo |
The Autumn mists
Depart, as do you; these journey clothes
Try on!
Though a little dewfall alone
Shall be our keepsake. |
Ōnakatomi no Yoshinobu
When parting from someone with whom she had a far from shallow attachment.
きたへゆく雁のつばさにことつてよ雲のうはがきかきたえずして
kita e yuku
kari no tsubasa ni
kototsute yo
yuki no uwagaki
kakitaezushite |
To the north I go;
On goose wings
Send me word!
Address above the snow,
Writing never ending. |
Murasaki Shikibu
紫式部
Topic unknown.
わすれなん世にもこしぢのかへる山いつはた人にあはむとすらん
wasure nan
yo ni mo koshiji no
kaeru yama
itsuhata hito ni
awamu to suran |
I would forget you
Out in the world upon the Koshi roads,
Returning from Mount Kaeru
Or Itsuhata when will it be
That I might meet with you? |
Ise
伊勢
Composed to accompany a letter sent to someone who had gone down to Michinoku province.
たまぼこのみちの山風さむからばかたみがてらにきなんとぞおもふ
tamaboko no
michi no yama kaze
samukaraba
katamigatera ni
ki nan to zo omou |
A jewelled spear,
The road where mountain winds
Blow chill, if so
These keepsake robes
I would that you would wear. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
'Simply moving and elegant'