Someone whom he had known for a long time came to call; after he had departed, he composed this, attached it to a branch of cherry blossom, and sent it to him.
ひとめ見しきみもや来るとさくら花けふは待ちみてちらばちら南
| Fitome misi kimi mo ya kuru to sakurabana keFu Fa mati mite tiraba tiranamu | But briefly did you glimpse them, so They wonder if you will return, These cherry blossoms; Today, I watch them and wait for you, so If they are to scatter, then let them! |
Tsurayuki
Composed for a poetry competition held during the reign of Emperor Uda.
見る人もなき山里のさくらばなほかのちりなんのちぞさかまし
| miru Fito mo naki yamazato no sakurabana Foka no tirinan noti zo sakamasi | With folk to see you Not a one, in this mountain home, O, cherry blossoms, After all the others are scattered and gone Would I have you bloom! |
Ise
Composed one year when there was an intercalary moon in the Third Month.[1]
さくら花春くははれる年だにも人のこころに飽かれやはせぬ
| sakurabana haru kuFaFareru tosi dani mo Fito no kokoro ni akare ya wa senu | O, cherry blossoms! Even when extra spring Is added to the year, To folk’s hearts Won’t you give satisfaction? |
Ise
[1] Probably 904.
Left (Tie).
我君の常盤のかげは秋もあらじ月の桂の千世にあふとも
| wa ga kimi no tokiwa no kage wa aki mo araji tsuki no katsura no chiyo ni au tomo |
Upon my Lord’s Evergreen face Never, shall autumn show, Though he match the moon’s silver trees’ Thousand Ages. |
199
Right (Tie).
散もせじ衣にすれるさゝ竹の大宮人のかざす櫻は
| chiri mo seji koromo ni sureru sasatake no ōmiyabito no kazasu sakura wa |
Not a petal will fall! In robes printed with Bamboo, The palace folk, have Arranged cherry blossom. |
200