A poem composed Yamabe no Akahito when he climbed Kamioka.
みもろの 神なび山に 五百枝さし しじに生ひたる 栂の木の いや継ぎ継ぎに 玉葛 絶ゆることなく ありつつも やまず通はむ 明日香の 古き都は 山高み 川とほしろし 春の日は 山し見がほし 秋の夜は 川しさやけし 朝雲に 鶴は乱れ 夕霧に かはづは騒く 見るごとに 音のみし泣かゆ いにしへ思へば
| mimoro no kamunabi yama ni iope sasi sidi ni opitaru tuga no ki no iya tugitugi ni tamakadura tayuru koto naku aritutu mo yamazu kayopamu asuka no puruki miyako pa yama takami kawa toposirosi paru no pi pa yama si migaposi aki no yo pa kapa si sayakesi asagumo ni tadu pa midare yupugiri ni kawadu wa sawagu miru goto ni ne nomi si nakayu inisie omopeba |
On the sacred Mountain of the Gods With many branches Flourishing grow Hemlock trees, All and ever joined with Hydrangea Never-ending Always there Ever would I be In Asuka, The ancient capital, where Mountains mighty and Rivers grand do lie, and On spring days It is the mountains I would see; On autumn nights The river, so refreshing! Amongst the morning clouds The cranes do swoop and soar; The evening mists Are noisy with the frogs; The simple sights Call forth my tears While I think on times gone by… |
Yamabe no Akahito
山部赤人
It is said that Her Majesty, when on the way to the capital, Nara, from the Fujiwara palace, had her palanquin halted at Nagaya-no-hara and composed this poem gazing at her former home.
飛鳥 明日香能里乎 置而伊奈婆 君之當者 不所見香聞安良武 [一云 君之當乎 不見而香毛安良牟]
飛ぶ鳥の明日香の里を置きて去なば君があたりは見えずかもあらむ
| tobu tori no asuka no sato wo okite inaba kimi ga atari pa miezu kamo aramu | A bird in flight: If the estate of Asuka I should leave behind, Then my Lord’s lands I will see no more. |
Empress Genmei (660-721)
元明皇后
Left (Tie).
たゞ今の野原ををのがものと見てこゝろづよくも歸る秋かな
| tada ima no nohara o ono ga mono to mite kokorozuyoku mo kaeru aki kana |
Now, before me should This plain be my Own, How strongly would I wish For the return of autumn! |
79
Right
冬はたゞ飛鳥の里の旅枕おきてやいなむ秋の白露
| fuyu wa tada asuka no sato no tabimakura okite ya inamu aki no shiratsuyu |
Winter will be here with The morrow; in the estate at Asuka, Pillowed, on a journey: Arising, and away— Will autumn depart with the dewfall? |
80
Left (Tie).
いまはとて有明のかげの槇の戸にさすがにおしき六月の空
| ima wa tote ariake no kage no maki no to ni sasuga ni oshiki minazuki no sora |
As if to say, ‘Now’s the time!’ Moonlight, at dawn Upon my yew-wood door Does strike; how I regret The waterless month’s late summer skies! |
41
Right
飛鳥河ゆくせの浪にみそぎしてはやくぞ年の半過ぬる
| asukagawa yuku se no nami ni misogishite hayaku zo toshi no nakaba suginuru |
In Asuka River’s Rapids’ waves I cleanse myself; How swiftly has the year’s First half come and gone! |
42
Left (Tie)
うちわたす遠方人はこたえねどにほひぞなのる野べの梅が枝
| uchiwatasu ochikatabito wa kotaenedo nioi zo nanoru nobe no ume ga e |
A far, far, Distant soul Makes no reply, yet A fragrance styles A sprig of plum upon the plain. |
Right
5
飛鳥河遠き梅が枝にほふ夜はいたづらにやは春風の吹
| asukagawa tōki ume ga e niou yo wa itzura ni ya wa harukaze no fuku |
By the Asuka River, From afar a spray of plum Scents the night; Pointlessly Does the spring wind blow? |
6
A poem by Prince Shiki, after moving from the Asuka to the Fujiwara Palace.
婇女乃 袖吹反 明日香風 京都乎遠見 無用尓布久
采女の袖吹きかえす明日香風都を遠みいたづらに吹く
| uneme no sode pukikapesu asuka kaze miyako wo topomi itadura ni puku | The servant girls’ Sleeves are blown inside-out By the winds at Asuka; So far from the capital, ’Tis still futilely gusting. |