On plucking the zither, playing the flute, and enjoying herself somewhere.
聞く人のみみさへさむく秋風に吹きあはせたる笛のこゑかな
kiku hito no mimi sae samuku akikaze ni fukiawasetaru fue no koe kana | The folk listening Have even had their ear chilled By the autumn breeze Blowing to them together with The flute’s notes! |
Izumi Shikibu (?-976?)
和泉式部
On scarlet ivy, clinging to a pine tree overlooking the ocean.
紅葉する蔦しかかればおのづから松もあたなる名ぞ立ちぬべき
momidisuru
tuta sika kareba
onodukara
matu mo adanaru
na zo tatinubeki |
Turning scarlet,
The ivy does entangle it, so
That it’s done it by itself,
Will the pine a certain
Reputation achieve! |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
When the house of Bishop Mokuban burnt down, I sent a message, with this, to his mother.
出でにける門のほかをし知らぬ身は問ふべき程もさたすきにけり
idenikeru
kado no Foka wo si
siranu mi Fa
toFubeki Fodo mo
sada suginikeri |
Departed
Through that other gate have you, while
In ignorance, I,
When I should have known,
Have passed my time. |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
人行かぬ道ならなくに何しかも板田の橋のふみかへすらむ
Fito yukanu
miti naranakuni
nani sikamo
itada no Fasi no
FumikaFesuramu |
An untravelled
Road this is not, yet
For some reason
Upon the bridge of Itada
I have once more set foot, it seems… |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
'Simply moving and elegant'