Composed as a poem on the beginning of summer.
おりふしもうつればかへつよのなかの人の心の花ぞめのそで
orifushi mo
utsureba kaetsu
yo no naka no
hito no kokoro no
hanazome no sode |
When the seasons
Changed, so did our clothes.
Out within the world
Men’s hearts
Are sleeves dyed with blossoms’ hues. |
The Daughter of Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office, [Fujiwara no] Toshinari
藤原俊成
Composed when spring had passed, and yet today was much like the day before.
なつごろもきていくかにかなりぬらんのこれる花はけふもちりつゝ
natsugoromo
kite ikukanika
narinuran
nokoreru hana wa
kyô mo chiritsutsu |
Summer clothes
For some few days
Have we worn, you know.
Remaining blossoms
Are falling still, today. |
Minamoto no Michitari
Composed on changing into summer clothes.
ちりはてゝ花のかげなきこのもとにたつことやすきなつごろもかな
chirihatete
hana no kage naki
ko no moto ni
tatsu koto yasuki
natsugoromo kana |
All completely scattered-gone
Is the blossoms’ shade
From beneath the trees
How easy now to depart in, joyfully made,
Summer clothing. |
Archbishop Jien (1155-1225)
慈円
From a hundred-poem sequence.
はかなくてすぎにしかたをかぞふれば花にものおもふ春ぞへにける
hakanakute
suginishi kata o
kazoureba
hana ni mono’omou
haru zo henikeri |
At a loss,
To times gone past
My thoughts return;
Gloomily on blossoms have I thought,
This spring gone by. |
Princess Shokushi
式子内親王
Composed on the spirit of desiring mountain blossoms, when he was Great Minister of the Centre.
白雲のたなびく山のやま桜いづれを花とゆきておらまし
shirayuki no
tanabiku yama no
yamazakura
izure o hana to
yukite oramashi |
Snow, white,
Trails across the mountain’s
Cherries;
Knowing which are blossom
I would go, and pluck them. |
The Former Kyōgoku Regent and Prime Minister [Fujiwara no Morozane (1042-1101)]
From the poetry contest in 1500 rounds.
おもひたつとりはふるすもたのむらんなれぬる花のあとのゆふぐれ
omoi tatsu
tori wa furu su mo
tanomuran
narenuru hana no
ato no yûgure |
Of a mind to depart,
A bird his former nest
Will always find;
Accustomed to the blossoms
On this evening they are gone… |
The Monk Jakuren
寂蓮
Topic unknown.
花にあかぬなげきはいつもせしかどもけふのこよひにゝる時はなし
hana ni akanu
nageki wa itsumo
seshikadomo
kyō no koyoi ni
niru toki wa nashi |
Blossoms without end
Ever were a grief
Indeed, yet,
This day’s night
Is like none other. |
Ariwara no Narihira
有原業平
From a hundred-poem sequence.
はかなくてすぎにしかたをかぞふれば花にものおもふ春ぞへにける
hakanakute
suginishi kata o
kazoureba
hana ni mono’omou
haru zo henikeri |
At a loss,
To times gone past
My thoughts return;
Gloomily on blossoms have I thought,
This spring gone by. |
Princess Shokushi
式子内親王
A Spring poem from the Poetry Contest in 1500 Rounds.
いくとせの春に心をつくしきぬあはれとおもへみよしのゝ花
iku tose no
haru ni kokoro o
tsukushikinu
aware to omoe
miyoshino no hana |
For how many years
Has Spring my heart
Left so exhausted?
Think fondly of me, I beg you,
Blossoms of fair Yoshino. |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office [Fujiwara no] Toshinari
藤原俊成
Composed thinking of the pledge of Kannon.
賴もしき誓は春にあらねども枯れにし枝も花ぞ咲きける
tanomosiki
tikaFi Fa Faru ni
aranedomo
karenisi eda mo
Fana zo sakikeru |
Most trustworthy
Is the pledge that Spring
It may not be, yet
Even upon a withered branch
Will blossoms bloom. |
Former Major Councillor Tokitada
'Simply moving and elegant'