Someone who had gone to a distant place died there and when their relations returned to the capital with the sad news, she composed:
何方の雲路としらばたづねましつらはなれけむ雁の行末を
| idukata no kumodi to siraba tadunemasi tura Fanarekemu kari no yukuwe wo |
On which Cloudway has he gone-could I but know, I would travel too – From his flock astray – To that goose’s whereabouts. |
Murasaki Shikibu
紫式部
Topic unknown.
初雁のなきこそわたれ世中の人の心の秋しうければ
| Fatukari no naki koso watare yo no naka no Fito no kokoro no aki si ukereba |
The first geese Wing over wailing (Weeping I pass my days); for This world’s Human hearts’ Autumn ennui is so cold. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
Topic unknown.
はつかりのはつかにこゑをききしより中ぞらにのみ物を思ふかな
| Fatu kari no Fatukani kowe wo kikisi yori nakazora ni nomi mono wo omoFu kana |
The first goose Faintly gives voice; Since hearing yours, Floating on air Have been my thoughts. |
Ōshikōchi no Mitsune
凡河内 躬恒
Composed on the occasion of a poetry competition at Prince Koresada’s house.
秋の夜のつゆをばつゆとおきながらかりの涙やのべをそむらむ
| aki no yo no tuyu woba tuyu to wokinagara kari no namida ya nobe wo somuran |
On Autumn nights The dew as dewdrops Falls, but, Perhaps goose tears Stain the fields? |
Mibu no Tadamine (Fl. 898-920)
壬生忠岑
Composed on hearing the cries of the geese.
うき事を思ひつらねてかりがねのなきこそわたれ秋のよなよな
| uki koto wo omoFituranete kari ga ne no naki koso watare aki no yonayona |
Downcast thoughts Flow on and on, and The goose calls Crying, drifting across, Autumn night after night. |
Ōshikōchi no Mitsune (Fl. 898-922)
凡河内躬恒
A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the Kanpyō era.
秋風にこゑをほにあげてくる舟はあまのとわたるかりにぞありける
| aki kaze ni kowe wo Fo ni agete kuru Funa Fa ama no to wataru kari ni zo arikeru | In the autumn wind, Hark! Voices raised with the sails, These boats approaching Cross from a skybound shore: The geese are here. |
Anonymous.
Topic unknown.
夜をさむみ衣かりがねなくなへに萩のしたばもうつろひにけり
| yoru wo samumi koromo kari ga ne naku nabe ni Fagi no sitaba mo uturoFinikeri |
The night is cold, so I’ll borrow a robe with goose cries Sounding The bush clover’s under-leaves Have turned sere. |
This poem is said by some to be the work of Kakinomoto no Hitomaro.
Anonymous.