Composed as a spring poem, when he presented poems to the Poetry Office.
葛城やたかまの桜さきにけりたつたのおくにかかる白雲
kazuragi ya takama no sakura sakinikeri tatsuta no oku ni kakaru shirakumo | In Kazuragi, On Takama peak the cherry Has bloomed! To the heart of Tatsuta Cling clouds of white…[1] |
Jakuren
[1] An allusive variation on KKS I: 59 and Wakan rōeishū II: 409/SKKS XI: 990.
Composed as a poem on blossom, when he held a poetry match.
をはつせの花のさかりをみわたせばかすみにまがふみねのしら雲
woFatuse no Fana no sakari wo miwataseba kasumi ni magaFu ne no sirakumo | When at Hatsuse Across the blossoms’ profusion I cast my gaze Entangled in haze are The clouds of white upon the peak. |
Senior Assistant Governor-General of Dazai, Shige’ie
Composed and sent to Master of the Right Capital Office Akisuke when he was Governor of Ōmi, to remark on his travelling to a distant district.
おもひかねそなたの空をながむればただ山のはにかかるしら雲
omoFikane sonata no sora wo nagamureba tada yama no Fa ni kakaru sirakumo | Unbearable is my heart’s pain— Upon the distant skies I gaze, but Simply upon the mountains’ edge Cling clouds of white.[i] |
The Former Chancellor and Palace Minister
[i] An allusive variation on Rinkashū 205.
A place famed for cherry blossom.
音にきくよしののさくら咲きにけり山のふもとにかかる白雲
oto ni kiku yoshino no sakura sakinikeri yama no fumoto ni kakaru shirakumo | The famed Yoshino cherries Have bloomed; Around the mountains’ feet Cling clouds of white. |
'Simply moving and elegant'