Category Archives: Man’yōshū

MYS XIV: 3368

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

MYS III: 328

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.

MYS IV: 569

[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

MYS II: 115

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.

MYS III: 268

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…

MYS III: 416

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?