In the conception of love, from a hundred poem sequence.
わがこひはあふをかぎりのたのみだにゆくゑもしらぬそらのうき雲
| wa ga koi wa au o kagiri no tanomi dani yukue mo shiranu sora no ukigumo |
In my yearning, A meeting is all I hope for; Going, I know not where, Are the clouds drifting in the skies. |
Commander of the Bodyguards of the Right [Minamoto no] Michitomo
Composed on ‘love in the evening’.
もしほやくあまのいそやのゆふけぶりたつなもくるし思たえなで
| moshio yaku ama no iso ya no yû keburi tatsu na mo kurushi omoi taenade |
Seaweed-salt burning, From fisher-folks’ huts upon the rocky shore In the evening smoke Rises-painful to lose my good name, yet I cannot bear this longing. |
Fujiwara no Hideyoshi
When the Horikawa Regent [Fujiwara no Kanemichi (925-977)] sent her a letter asking where her home was:
わがやどはそこともなにかをしふべきいはでこそ見めたづねけりやと
| wa ga yado wa soko tomo nani ka oshû beki iwade koso mime tazunekeri ya to |
My home: Where does it lie? Should I truly tell you? Better to be silent and gaze upon you, Wondering whether you had asked in truth. |
Hon’in no Jijū
Sent to a cold-hearted woman on the last day of the Twelfth Month.
あらたまのとしにまかせて見るよりはわれこそこえめあふさかの関
| aratama no toshi ni makasete miru yori wa ware koso koeme osaka no seki |
An uncut gem, The year: should I leave it to – And just watch – far rather Would I be the one passing beyond The barrier of Ōsaka, place of meeting. |
Kentoku-Kō [Fujiwara no Koremasa (924-972)]
Seeing the handmaid who had served the daughter of Major Captain of the Left Asateru, one of the Gosechi Dancers, he sent this to her:
あまつそらとよのあかりに見し人のなをおもかげのしひてこひしき
| ama tsu sora toyo no akari ni mishi hito no nao omokage no shiite koishiki |
Among Heaven’s skies At the dawn of fertility Did I see a lady? Still is her face Dear to me beyond bearing. |
Former Major Councillor Kintō (966-1041)
藤原公任
On hidden love, from a hundred poem sequence when the Lay-Priest and former Regent was Minister of the Right.
ちらすなよしのゝ葉ぐさのかりにてもつゆかゝるべき袖のうへかは
| chirasu na yo shino no hagusa no kari nite mo tsuyu kakarubeki sode no ue ka wa |
Drip not! Leaves of bamboo seedlings I’d not pluck-briefly, indeed, Must dewdrops cling there, Above my sleeves, perhaps? |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成