Composed when she had received an imperial command to present poems, and written down at the end.
山河のおとにのみきくももしきを身をはやながら見るよしもがな
| yamagaFa no oto ni nomi kiku momosiki wo mi wo Faya nagara miru yosi mo gana |
A mountain brook Babbling is all I hear Over the many-stoned palace Swift as the current would I return to the days I saw it-how I wish it could be so! |
Ise
伊勢
Composed on selling a house.
あすかがはふちにもあらぬわがやどもせにかはりゆく物にぞ有りける
| asukagaFa Futi ni mo aranu wa ga yado mo se ni kaFariyuku mono ni zo arikeru |
In the river Asuka There are no deep pockets for funeral gifts; My house Has rapidly changed to cash That’s how it happened! |
Ise
伊勢
When she was a Katsura, in reply to a letter sent asking after her from Her Majesty, the Shichijō Empress [Onshi].
久方のなかに生ひたる里なれば光をのみぞ賴むべらなる
| Fisakata no naka ni oFitaru sato nareba Fikari wo nomi zo tanomuberanaru |
The everlasting (moon): Growing in its midst Is my home, so In its light alone Can I place my trust. |
Ise
伊勢
Composed below a waterfall, when she had gone to Ryûmon.
裁ち縫はぬ衣きし人もなき物をなに山姫の布さらすらむ
| tatinuFanu kinu kisi Fito mo naki mono wo nani yama Fime no nuno sarasuramu |
Uncut and unsewn Were the clothes those folk wore; Gone now, So why should the mountain’s princess Bleach her cloth? |
Ise
伊勢
On a day when there was an entertainment of launching some boats on the pond at the home of the Nakatsukasa Prince [Atsuyoshi], the Priestly Retired Emperor [Uda] came to watch. Towards evening, he prepared to leave, and Ise composed this poem for him.
水のうへにうかべる舟の君ならばここぞとまりといはまし物を
| midu no uFe ni ukaberu Fune no kimi naraba koko zo tomari to iFamasi mono wo |
On the water Float these boats: If one were your majesty, ‘ Berth yourself here!’ Is what I would wish to say. |
Ise
伊勢
While going somewhere, sunk in thought, she saw a burning field by the road and composed this:
冬がれののべとわが身を思ひせばもえても春をまたまし物を
| Fuyugare no nobe to wa ga mi wo omoFiseba moetemo Faru wo matamasi mono wo |
Withered in winter Are the fields, and I- Were I the same, then Though I burn, the spring Might be something to await. |
Ise
伊勢
When Lord [Fujiwara no] Nakahira, whom she had known and been meeting for some time, became more distant towards her, she decided to go to her father, the Governor of Yamato, and, composing this, sent it to Nakahira:
みわの山いかにまち見む年ふともたづぬる人もあらじと思へば
| miwa no yama ika ni matimimu tosi Fu tomo tadunuru Fito mo arazi to omoFeba | On the mount of Miwa Why should I wait? Years may pass, yet Would you come enquiring- I think not! |
Ise
伊勢
Topic unknown.
あひにあひて物思ふころのわが袖にやどる月さへぬるるかほなる
| aFi ni aFite mono omoFu koro no wa ga sode ni yadoru tuki saFe nururu kaFo naru |
So many times have we met; In gloomy thought Upon my sleeves Where rests the moon Even her face wet with tears. |
Ise
伊勢