Sent to someone who had served the empress of former Emperor Ichijō, who gone to Hyūga province.
あかねさす日にむかひても思ひいでよみやこはしのぶながめすらんと
| akane sasu Fi ni mukaFitemo omoFi’ideyo miyako Fa sinobu nagame suran to | Shining madder red Toward the sun have you made your way, but O, remember, To recall the capital, and Turn your gaze that way… |
Her Majesty, the Empress
Composed during the reign of former Emperor Ichijō, when His Majesty was presented with a gift of some eightfold cherry blossom from Nara and, being in attendance, he ordered her to composed a poem on this gift of blossom.
いにしへのならの宮このやへざくらけふここのへににほひぬるかな
| inishie no nara no miyako no yaezakura kyō kokonoe ni nioinuru kana | The ancient Capital of Nara had Eightfold cherry blossom, that Today within the ninefold palace Does shine! |
Ise no Taiyū
When he was passing the barrier at Shirakawa on the way to Michinoku.
たよりあらばいかでみやこへつげやらむけふしらかはの関はこえぬと
| tayori araba ikade miyako Fe tuge yaramu keFu sirakaFa no seki Fa koenu to | Had I but a messenger Somehow, to the capital I would send word— That today the Shirakawa Barrier I have passed through… |
Taira no Kanemori
Composed at the Shirakawa Barrier, when he had gone to Michinoku.
宮こをばかすみとともにたちしかどあきかぜぞ吹くしらかはのせき
| miyako woba kasumi to tomo ni tatisikado akikaze zo Fuku sirakaFa no seki | From the capital Together with the haze Did I depart, yet The autumn wind, indeed, is blowing At the Barrier of Shirakawa! |
Monk Nōin
From the Poetry Contest in One Thousand Five Hundred Rounds.
おぼつかなみやこにすまぬ宮こどりこととふ人にいかがこたへし
| obotsukana miyako ni sumanu miyakodori koto tou hito ni ikaga kotaeshi | How strange it is that In the capital lives not The capital bird— To he who enquired of it How did it reply?[i] |
Gishūmon’in no Tango
[i] An allusive variation on KKS IX: 411.
Composed when he composed a large number of poems about the moon.
さざなみや国つみかみのうらさびてふるき宮こに月ひとりすむ
| sazanami ya kunitumikami no urasabite Furuki miyako ni tuki Fitori sumu | Wavelets have washed The guardian god Chilling his heart, for At the ancient capital The solitary moon shines clear. |
The Hosshōji Lay Priest and Former Chancellor and Palace Minister
