妹背山深き道をばたづねずて緒絶えの橋に踏みまどひける
| imoseyama Fukaki miti wo ba tadunezute wodae no Fasi ni FumimadoFikeru |
Brother and sister, of the mountain’s Secret paths I have not enquired; Upon the bridge of Odae I wander in confusion. |
Category Archives: Prose Works
Genji monogatari 667
たえせじの我が頼みにや宇治橋の遥けき中を待ちわたるべき
| taesezi no wa ga tanomi ni ya udibasi no Farukeki naka wo matiwatarubeki |
Never for this to end Is that what I want? Beyond the bridge at Uji A distant bond, Simply ever awaiting… |
Kagerō nikki 10
超えわぶる逢坂よりも音に聞く勿来をかたき関としらなん
| koewaburu aFusaka yori mo oto ni kiku nakoso o kataki seki to siranan |
Struggling to pass Meeting Hill – more, As the name suggests – Difficult is Nakoso – Come not! A barrier you should know! |
The Mother of Michitsuna
道綱母
Ise Monogatari 15
しのぶ山忍びて通ふ道もがな人の心の奥も見るべく
| shinobuyama shinobite kayou michi mogana hito no kokoro no oku mo mirubeku |
O Mount Shinobu! To secretly traverse Your paths – I wish I could! Then into my lady’s heart of Hearts could I catch a glimpse! |
michishiba no
道芝の露におきゐる人により我が手枕の袖もかわかず
| michishiba no tsuyu ni oki’iru hito ni yori wa ga tamakura no sode mo kawakazu |
The roadside grasses Dewfall On him Make my pillow – His sleeve undrying. |
Izumi Shikibu
noborubeki
のぼるべき便無き身は木の下にしゐをひろひて世をわたるかな
| noborubeki tayori naki mi Fa ko no moto ni shiwi o FiroFite yo wo wataru kana |
To climb up One such as I has none, So among the tree roots Gathering four-fold nuts Must I make my way! |
Minamoto no Yorimasa
源頼政
Genji monogatari 107
梓弓入佐の山にまとふかなほの見し月の影や見ゆると
| adusa yumi irusa no yama ni matoFu kana Fonomishi tuki no kage ya miyuru to |
A catalpa bow At Mount Irusa is aimed; Is aimed; Dimly glimpsed, that moon, Will I see her light once more? |
Genji Monogatari 71
里分かぬ影をば見れど行く月の入佐の山を誰かたづぬる
| sato wakanu kage wo ba miredo yuku tuki no irusa no yama wo tare ka tadunuru |
Every dwelling Stands clear in this light, yet The moon travels on, Setting at Mount Irusa And who would call upon it there? |
Ise Mongatari, Chapter 96
Written by a woman and sent to a man whom she had promised to marry, after her family have disagreed and taken her away:
秋かけていひしながらもあらなくに木の葉降りしくえにこそありけれ
| aki kakete iFisinagara mo aranakuni ko no Fa Furisiku e ni koso arikere |
‘When autumn comes’ I said, And yet, ‘tis not to be; Fallen leaves swept along The inlet, indeed! |
Ise Monogatari, Chapter 9
駿河なる打津の山べのうつゝにも夢にも人にあはぬなりけり
| suruganaru utu no yamabe no ututu ni mo yume ni mo Fito ni aFanu narikeri |
In Suruga By Utsu Mount In reality And in my dreams, my love I meet no more… |