A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Dowager Empress during the Reign of the Kanpyō Emperor.

かりそめの世やたのまれぬ夏の日をなどうつせみのなきくらしつる

karisome no yo ya tanomarenu natsu no hi o nado utsusemi no nakikurashitsuru

Is this transient World untrustworthy? On a summer day Why does the cicada, an empty shell, Cry the day away?

Anonymous