阿之我利能 刀比能可布知尓 伊豆流湯能 余尓母多欲良尓 故呂河伊波奈久尓
あしがりの土肥の河内に出づる湯のよにもたよらに子ろが言はなくに
asigari no topi no kaputi ni iduru yu no yo ni mo tayora ni koro ga ipanaku ni At Ashigari At Toi in Kawachi Spouts a hot spring Endless as our love She said, and yet…
Anonymous
A poem by Lord Ono no Oyu, Junior Assistant Governor-General of Dazai.
青丹吉 寧樂乃京師者 咲花乃 薫如 今盛有
あをによし奈良の都は咲く花のにほふがごとく今盛りなり
awoni yosi nara no miyako pa saku pana no nipopu ga gotoku ima masakari nari Good blue-black clay— Nara, the capital, As the flowering blossom Glows, Is in full-bloom today.
客尓為而 妻恋為良思 霍公鳥 神名備山尓 左夜深而鳴
旅にして妻恋すらし霍公鳥神なび山にさ夜更けて鳴く
tabi ni site tuma kopisurasi pototogisu kamunabiyama ni sayo pukete naku On your journey You must love your wife as I O, cuckoo, Upon sacred Kaminabi Mountain That you cry at brief night’s dawn…
Anonymous
[One of] Four poems composed by guests at a banquet held at Ashiki post station in the province of Tsukushi to celebrate the departure of Ōtomo no Tabito from Dazaifu when he was commanded to return to the capital on his promotion to Major Counsellor.
辛人之 衣染云 紫之 情尓染而 所念鴨
韓人の衣染むといふ紫の心に染みて思ほゆるかも
karabito no koromo somu to ipu murasaki no kokoro ni somite omopoyuru kamo Cathy folk Dye their garb, they say, With purple hues Just so, my heart is stained I feel!
Senior Clerk, Asada no Murajiyasu 大典麻田連陽春
[One of] twenty-four poems sent by Lady Kasa to Ōtomo no Yakamochi.
不相念 人乎思者 大寺之 餓鬼之後尓 額衝如
相思はぬ人を思ふは大寺の餓鬼の後方に額つくごとし
ai’omopanu pito wo omopu pa opotera no gaki no siripe ni nuka tuku gotosi He loves me not: Loving that man is like Being at a grand temple and Behind a hungry ghost Making obeisance!
A poem sent by Princess Tajima, when Prince Hozumi was despatched to the Shiga mountain temple in Ōmi, by imperial command.
遺居<而> 戀管不有者 追及武 道之阿廻尓 標結吾勢
後れ居て恋ひつつあらずは追ひ及かむ道の隈廻に標結へ我が背
okure’wite koitutu arazu pa opisikamu miti no kumami ni sime yupe wa ga se Left behind and Ever in love, am I not, so I shall follow you; At every turn along your road Leave me tied a sign, o, darling.
A poem composed on an ancient estate by Prince Nagaya.
吾背子我 古家乃里之 明日香庭 乳鳥鳴成 <嬬>待不得而
我が背子が古家の里の明日香には千鳥鳴くなり妻待ちかねて
wa ga seko ga purupe no sato no asuka ni pa tidori nakunari tuma matikanete In that dear man’s Ancient estate home At Asuka Plovers are crying, Impatiently awaiting their mates…
A poem composed by Prince Ōtsu, weeping, at Iware Pond, when he was due to die.
百傳 磐余池尓 鳴鴨乎 今日耳見哉 雲隠去牟
百伝ふ磐余の池に鳴く鴨を今日のみ見てや雲隠りなむ
momo tutapu ipare no ike ni naku kamo wo kepu nomi mite ya kumogakurinamu A hundred tales Told at Iware Pond By the crying ducks Do I see, today, at the last As I vanish beyond the clouds?
左桧隈 <桧隈>河尓 駐馬 馬尓水令飲 吾外将見
さ桧隈桧隈川に馬留め馬に水飼へ我れ外に見む
sapinokuma pinokumagapa ni uma todome uma ni midu kape ware yoso ni mimu In Sahinokuma By the Hinokuma River Halt your horse, and Give him water— Secretly will I watch you.
真野之浦乃 与騰乃継橋 情由毛 思哉妹之 伊目尓之所見
真野の浦の淀の継橋心も思へや妹が夢にし見ゆる
mano no ura no yodo no tugipasi kokoro yu mo omope ya imo ga yume ni si miyuru Across the bay of Mano Over the pools lies a many-pillared bridge— Does she so cover my heart? That love for my darling Brings her to my dreams…
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