When he had been visiting someone for a while, but it had been difficult to meet, he attached this to something and sent it to her:
暮れぬとて寢てゆくべくもあらなくにたどるたどるも歸るまされり
| kurenu tote nete yukubeku mo aranaku ni tadoru tadoru mo kaFeru masareri |
It is dark, yet To go to you and sleep Is not possible, so I wander round and round – Better to go home! |
Ariwara no Narihira
有原業平
When making preparations to return to the capital after he had been living at Fukakusa for a while, he composed this poem and sent it to someone there.
年をへて住みこし里をいでて去なばいとど深草野とやなり南
| tosi wo Fete sumikosi sato wo idete inaba itodo fukakusa no to ya narinamu |
The years have passed Dwelling in this house; Were I to leave and go away How lush and thick would the grasses of Fukakusa- Returning to fields-become? |
Ariwara no Narihira
有原業平
At the time when Narihira often visited Prince Koretaka, the Prince became a monk and went to a place called Ono. In the First Month, Narihira went there, intending to call on the Prince; it was at the foot of Mount Hiei, so the snow was very deep. He forced his way up to the Prince’s hut and paid his respects, finding the Prince with nothing to do and in low spirits; on his return home, he composed this and sent it to him.
わすれては夢かとぞ思おもひきや雪ふむわけて君を見むとは
| wasurete Fa yume ka to zo omoFu omoFiki ya yuki fumiwakete kimi wo mimu to Fa |
I forget And it seems a dream somehow Or one I never had? Forging through the snow, To see my Prince. |
Ariwara no Narihira
有原業平
When Ki no Toshisada was sent to Awa as Vice-Governor, Narihira planned a farewell banquet for him. On the day he was due to depart, Toshisada kept rushing about here and there and, when he did not appear, even though it was late at night, Narihira sent this to him.
今ぞ知るくるしき物と人またむ里をば離れず訪ふべかりけり
| ima zo siru kurusiki mono to Fito matamu sato woba karezu toFubekarikeri |
Now I know well The pain of it; When someone awaits me At their home, I’ll not stay away But pay my call, as I should. |
Ariwara no Narihira
有原業平
Composed when people had gathered below Nunohiki Falls and were composing poems.
ぬきみだる人こそあるらし白玉のまなくもちるか袖のせばきに
| nukimidaru Fito koto arurasi siratama no ma naku mo tiru ka sode no sebaki ni |
Plucking them apart to glimpse their disarray: There must be someone there! White jewelets Scattering without a halt, And my sleeve too narrow! |
Narihira
業平
When Narihira’s mother, the Princess, was living at Nagaoka, he found it difficult to get leave from his court duties and so was not able to visit her often. Around the Twelfth Month, a letter came from his mother, apparently on an extremely pressing matter; when he opened the letter and looked at it, there was no message, only this poem.
老いぬればさらぬ別もありといへばいよいよ見まくほしき君かな
| oinureba saranu wakare mo ari to iFeba iyoiyo mimaku Fosiki kimi kana |
As I have grown old, Our final parting Will come soon, I feel, so At the last, I wish to see You, my lord. |