Cathay Folk 唐人
から人の衣にかざるしら玉の碧き光のめづらしきかな
karabito no
koromo ni kazaru
shiratama no
shiroki hikari no
mezurashiki kana | The Cathay folks’
Garb is adorned
With pearls –
Their blue-white glow
Is rare, indeed! |
Higo
Sages’ Dwellings 仙宮
我もいざたづね入りなんをののえのくちけん山の跡をしのびて
ware mo iza
tazune’iri nan
ono no e no
kuchiken yama no
ato o shinobite | I, too, somehow
Seem to have paid a visit there!
Of an axe handle
Rotting on a mountain
I have remnants of recollection. |
Higo
The Seventh Night 七夜
ちとせふる祝の松のつるの子はけふすをたちて七夜なりけり
chitose furu
iwai no matsu no
tsuru no ko wa
kyō su o tachite
nanayo narikeri | Ageing for a thousand years,
A celebratory pine is where
A crane chick has
Today made her nest and
Reached her seventh night. |
Higo
Felicitations 賀
我が君をいはひこめつつ竹の枝ちよとちぎるはうれしかりけり
wa ga kimi o
iwaikometsutsu
take no eda
chiyo to chigiru wa
ureshikarikeri | For My Lord
While deep in celebration
Upon a branch of bamboo
‘Live a thousand generations!’ I vow –
What joy! |
Higo
Coming of Age 元服
むらさきのはつもとゆひをむすぶより君がくらゐの山をしぞ思ふ
murasaki no
hatsu motoyui o
musubu yori
kimi ga kurai no
yama o shi zo omou | With violet was
Your first topknot
Tied – since then
My Lord, your status
Reminds me of a mountain’s lofty heights. |
Higo
Waterweed 萍
世の中は水のうへなるうき草のうきにたへたる身をいかにせん
yo no naka wa
mizu no uenaru
ukikusa no
uki ni taetaru
mi o ikani sen | In this mundane world
Atop the waters lies
A waterweed –
In endless misery,
O, what am I to do? |
Higo
Dwarf Bamboo 小篠
露しげきをざさが原を分けゆけば衣のすそになびくしら玉
tsuyu shigeki
ozasa ga hara o
wakeyukeba
koromo no suso ni
nabiku shiratama | Drenched with dew is
This grove of dwarf bamboo through which
I forge my way, so
My garment’s hems
Trail white gemlets. |
Higo
Katsura 桂
神山のかつらを折るは月のうちに我がおもふことならざらめやは
kamiyama no
katsura o oru wa
tsuki no uchi ni
wa ga omou koto
narazarame ya wa | On a mountain where deities dwell,
I break a katsura branch – though
Upon the moon
The object of my thoughts
Does not seem to be? |
Higo
Sakaki 榊
万代の色もかはらぬためしには神なび山のさか木をぞとる
yorozuyo no
iro mo kawaranu
tameshi ni wa
kaminabiyama no
sakaki o zo toru | Ten-thousand generations
Of unchanging hues
Do they display, so
From the holy mountain
Will I gather sacred sakaki. |
Higo
Shrines 社
たのみては久しくなりぬいそのかみふるのやしろのもとのちかひを
tanomite wa
hisashikunarinu
iso no kami
furu no yashiro no
moto no chikai o | I will place my trust
In eternal
Isonokami’s
Ancient shrine’s
First vow! |
Higo
'Simply moving and elegant'