Composed on the conception of unmet love with varying emotions, when he was ordered to produce a hundred poem sequence.
ながらへてかはるこころをみるよりはあふにいのちをかへてましかば
nagaraFete kaFaru kokoro wo miru yori Fa aFu ni inoti wo kaFetemashi ka ba | To live on and Your inconstant heart See—I’d rather For a meeting my life Exchange… |
The Regent and Minister of the Right
Composed as an autumn poem.
ゆふさればをののあさぢふ玉ちりてこころくだくる風の音かな
yuFu sareba wono no asadiFu tama tirite kokoro kudakuru kaze no oto kana | When the evening comes All across the cogon-grass plain Scatter gemstones— Heart-tangling is The sound of wind! |
The Regent and Former Minister of the Right
Composed on the conception of seeing blossom every morning.
たづねきてたをるさくらの朝露に花のたもとのぬれぬ日ぞなき
tadunekite taworu sakura no asatuyu ni Fana no tamoto no nurenu Fi zo naki | I pay a visit and Pluck, with my hand, a stem of cherry blossom; The morning dew My springtime sleeves Dampens every single day! |
The Naka-no-in Minister of the Right
Composed on the conception of differing love, for the same ten poem sequence.
うれしくはのちの心を神もきけひくしめなはのたえじとぞおもふ
uresiku Fa noti no kokoro wo kami mo kike Fiku simenawF no taezi to zo omoFu | Should it please you, Let my heart in days to come— Heed my prayer, O, God— As a sacred garland strung I would it prove false never! |
Master of the Palace Repairs Office Akisue
Composed when he composed ten poems about the moon.
今よりはふけ行くまでに月はみじそのこととなく涙おちけり
ima yori Fa Fukeyuku made ni tuki Fa mizi sono koto to naku namida otikeri | From now Until the break of dawn I shall not look upon the moon; For no particular reason My tears are falling. |
Lord Fujiwara no Kiyosuke
Composed when he presented a Hundred Poem Sequence to former Emperor Sutoku.
たつたひめかざしのたまのををよわみみだれにけりとみゆるしらつゆ
tatutaFime kazasi no tama no wo wo yowami midarenikeri to miyuru siratuyu | Princess Tatsuta’s Jewelled hairpin Has threads so frail that Confused do Appear the silver dewdrops. |
Lord Fujiwara no Kiyosuke
Topic unknown.
おほけなくうきよのたみにおほふかなわがたつそまにすみぞめの袖
oFokenaku uki yo no tami ni oFoFu kana wa ga tatu soma ni sumizome no sode | Imprudently Upon the common folk of this cruel world I lay them— In the cell where I now dwell: Ink-dyed sleeves… |
Dharma Seal Jien
Composed when he composed a large number of poems about the moon.
さざなみや国つみかみのうらさびてふるき宮こに月ひとりすむ
sazanami ya kunitumikami no urasabite Furuki miyako ni tuki Fitori sumu | Wavelets have washed The guardian god Chilling his heart, for At the ancient capital The solitary moon shines clear. |
The Hosshōji Lay Priest and Former Chancellor and Palace Minister
Composed when he was on a pilgrimage to worship Kannon at thirty-three places, and saw oil emerging at Tanigumi, in Mino.[1]
よをてらすほとけのしるしありければまだともし火もきえぬなりけり
yo wo terasu Fotoke no sirusi arikereba mada tomosibi mo kienu narikeri | Shining light upon the world, This Buddha, a sign Does give: As yet, the lanterns Never have gone out! |
Former Archbishop Kakuchū
前大僧正覚忠
[1] This poem was composed at the Kegonji 華厳寺 temple on Mount Tagumi (Tagumisan 谷汲山) in the middle of what is now Gifu 岐阜 prefecture.
In reply to Her Majesty.
雲のうへもくらしかねける春の日をところがらともながめつるかな
kumo no uFe mo kurasikanekeru Faru no Fi wo tokorogara tomo nagameturu kana | Above the clouds There can be no darkness With the springtime sun— How fitting for this place that Long have I gazed upon it! |
Sei Shōnagon
'Simply moving and elegant'