After the main shrine at Kumano was burnt down, within the space of a year His Majesty was able to visit for the ceremony for the moving of the God to temporary buildings.
契あればうれしきかゝるおりにあひぬわするな神もゆくすゑの空
| chigiri areba ureshiki kakaru ori ni ainu wasuru na kami mo yukusue no sora |
It must be fate for me Such a joyous Time to see; Never will I forget it–may the Gods, too, Not forget us in times to come. |
The Senior Retired Emperor (Gotoba)
後鳥羽
Composed as a love poem.
たのめずは人はまつちの山なりとねなまし物をいざよひの月
| tanomezu wa hito wa matsuchi no yama nari to nenamashi mono o izayoi no tsuki |
You made no promise, so For you I’ll wait and upon Matsuchi Mountain I will make my bed-while thus in idle thought Just past full, the moon appeared. |
The Senior Retired Emperor [Gotoba (1180-1239; r. 1183-1198)]
後鳥羽
In the Tenth Month, when He was in Minase, He sent to Former Archbishop Jien saying He had been ‘soaked by the showers’ or some such; in the Godless Month of the following year, among a great number of undistinguished poems, He sent this.
おもひいづるおりたくしばのゆふけぶりむせぶもうれし忘がたみに
| omoiizuru ori taku shiba no yûkeburi musebu mo ureshi wasuregatami ni |
Remembering her, Snapped kindling Smoke in the evening Chokes me-happy For I can never forget her. |
The Senior Retired Emperor [Gotoba]
後鳥羽
For a painting of cherry blossom blooming on a mountain on a folding screen, when the ninetieth birthday celebrations were held for Shakua at the Poetry Office.
さくらさくとを山どりのしだりおのながながし日もあかぬ色かな
| sakura saku tōyamadori no shidario no naganagashi hi mo akanu iro kana |
Cherries blooming in The distant mountains – the pheasant’s Tail hangs down So long, so long the day, yet The colours never sate me. |
The Retired Emperor [Gotoba (1180-1239; r. 1183-1198)]
後鳥羽
Composed on the desires of Spring in a village by the water, when the gentlemen of the court were composing Chinese poems and Japanese to match them.
見わたせば山もとかすむみなせがはゆふべはあきとなにおもひけん
| miwataseba yama moto kasumu minasegawa yūbe wa aki to nani omoiken |
When I gaze across The haze-shrouded mountains’ feet, to The river Minase: The evening is Autumn time – I wonder why I felt so… |
The Retired Emperor [Gotoba (1180-1239; r. 1183-1198)]