On winter rain, from a hundred poem sequence on the four seasons, composed in Jōkyū 2 [1220].
都人ちぎりしものをはつ雪に松の葉をしき夕暮の雨
miyakobito chigirishi mono o hatsuyuki ni matsu no ha o shiki yūgure no ame | Capital folk Did make a vow: Upon the first snows Pine needles spread By the evening rain. |
Lord Ietaka, Junior Second Rank
From among the poems he composed daily in Bun’ei 7 [1270].
冬の雨の名残のきりはあけ過ぎてくもらぬ空にのこる月かげ
fuyu no ame no nagori no kiri wa akesugite kumoranu sora ni nokoru tsukikage | The winter rain’s Remnants of mist Have cleared away, and In the cloudless sky Lingers moonlight. |
Minister of Popular Affairs, Lord Tame’ie
From a poetry contest at Sadafun’s house.
みねはもえふもとはこほるふじ川のわれもうき世を住みぞわづらふ
mine Fa moe Fumoto Fa koForu FuzigaFa no ware mo ukiyo wo sumi zo waduraFu | At the peak it burns and At the foot does freeze: The Fuji River, just as I, too, in this cruel world Live and suffer. |
Fukayabu
This is the sole surviving poem from ‘Sadafumi’s Poetry Contest‘.
Same as the previous poem.
わたの海にふるしら雪は消えながら波の心にさむさをぞそむ
wata no umi ni Furu sirayuki Fa kienagara nami no kokoro ni samusa wo zo somu | Across the broad sea sweep Falls white snow; It vanishes, yet The waves’ hearts are Dyed with cold. |
Anonymous
On waves chilled to the heart due to snow, from the poetry contest at Sadafun’s house, Engi 6.
ふる雪に波の心もさむからしかざがくれとやへたにたちよる
Furu yuki ni nami no kokoro mo samukararashi kazagakure to ya Feta ni tachiyoru | With the falling snow The waves’ hearts, too, Must be so cold; Do they seek shelter from the wind Breaking on the shore? |
Anonymous
Same as the previous poem.
紅のはちすうきたるみどりぬにしら波たてばこきまぜの花
kurenawi no Fatisu ukitaru midorinu ni siranami tateba kokimaze no Fana | Scarlet, The lotus floats upon The green marsh, but When the whitecaps rise All jumbled will the flowers be… |
Anonymous
Scarlet lotus flowers floating on marsh water, from the poetry contest at Sadafun’s house, Engi 6
みどりぬにうきたるはちすくれなゐにみづにごるなり波たつなゆめ
midorinu ni ukitaru hatisu kurenawi ni midu nigorunari nami tatu na yume | Upon the green marsh Floats a lotus Its scarlet Stains the waters – O, rise not, you waves! |
Anonymous
Same as the previous poem.
咲く花のひかりにもゆる春のきはけぶりをこめて晴れずぞ有りける
saku Fana no Fikari ni moyuru Faru no ki Fa keburi wo komete Farezu zo arikeru | The blooming blossom Burning a’glow is The sense of spring; Surrounded by smoke that Never clears… |
Anonymous
On the warm feeling of spring, enveloped by smoke, from the poetry contest at Sadafun’s house in Engi 6.
梅の花雪にみゆれど春の気はけぶりをこめて寒からなくに
ume no Fana yuki ni miyuredo Faru no ki Fa keburi wo komete samurakanaku ni | The plum blossom Seems like snow, yet The sense of spring Is surrounded with smoke Though I feel no chill… |
Anonymous
A poem from a poetry contest held in the Eighth Month, Shōtai 4.
いそのかみふるのやしろにはふくずもあきにしなれば色かはりけり
isonokami Furu no yasiro ni haFu kuzu mo aki ni shi nareba iro kaFarikeri | In Isonokami At the ancient shrine of Furu Even the creeping kudzu vine When the autumn comes Does change its hues. |
Anonymous
'Simply moving and elegant'