Topic unknown.
まこもかるよどのさは水雨ふればつねよりことにまさるわが戀
makomo karu
yodo no saFamidu
ame Fureba
tune yori koto ni
masaru wa ga koFi |
Harvesting wild rice
Among the marsh waters of the Yodo:
After rain,
Extraordinarily the waters
Overflow, as does my love. |
Tsurayuki
貫之
Topic unknown.
秋の野にみだれて咲ける花の色のちぐさに物を思ふころ哉
aki no no ni
midarete sakeru
Fana no iro no
tigusa ni mono wo
omoFu koro kana |
In the autumn fields
Blooming intermingled
The flowers’ hues
Are a riot
Of feeling for me now. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
Topic unknown.
五月山こずゑを高みほととぎす鳴くねそらなる戀もする哉
satuki yama
kozuwe wo takami
Fototogisu
naku ne sora naru
koFi mo suru kana |
In the summer mountains
From the treetop heights
Cuckoos’
Calls fill the sky
As does my love. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
Topic unknown.
夢路にも露やをくらん夜もすがら通へる袖のひちてかはかぬ
yumedi ni mo
tuyu ya wokuran
yo mo sugara
kayoFeru sode no
Fitite kaFakanu |
On the path of dreams
Has there been dewfall, perhaps?
Throughout the night
I went back and forth, my sleeves
Soaked, and still not dried. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
A poem composed at a competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress during the Kampyô era (889-898).
君こふる涙しなくは唐衣むねのあたりは色もえなまし
kimi koFuru
namida si naku Fa
karakoromo
mune no atari Fa
iro moenamasi |
For you, my love
Brings forth tears, did it not
My Chinese robe
About the breast
Would burn with the fire of my passion. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
Topic unknown.
世とともに流てぞ行涙河冬もこほらぬ水泡なりけり
yo to tomo ni
nagarete zo yuku
namidagawa
Fuyu mo koForanu
minawa narikeri |
Throughout the span of man
It flows along:
The river of tears.
Even winter does not freeze
The foam upon its waters. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
Topic unknown.
逢ふ事はくもゐはるかになる神のおとにききつつこひ渡るかな
aFu koto Fa
kumowi Farukani
naru kami no
woto ni kikitutu
koFi wataru kana |
Meeting is as remote as
Cloud-shrouded,
Thunder rumbles
As do rumours of you
And so my love continues. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
On going to a place where women were wont to pick flowers, he later composed this and sent it to one of the ladies who had been there.
山ざくら霞のまよりほのかにも見てし人こそこひしかりけれ
yamazakura
kasumi no ma yori
Fonokani mo
mitesi Fito koso
koFisikarikere |
A mountain cherry
Through the drifting mists
Faintly
Seen thus there is a lady
I long for all the more. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
Topic unknown.
世中はかくこそ有りけれ吹く風のめに見ぬ人もこひしかりけり
yo no naka Fa
kaku koso arikere
Fuku kaze no
me ni minu Fito mo
koFisikarikeri |
This world of men
Is such a place:
The gusting wind,
Invisible, as she I’ve never seen
And yet do love. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
Topic unknown.
吉野河いは浪たかく行く水のはやくぞ人を思ひそめてし
yosinogaFa
iFa nami takaku
yuku midu no
Fayaku zo Fito wo
omoFisometesi |
At Yoshino River
Waves crash high above the rocks;
The rushing water
Swift as your
Lodging within my thoughts. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
'Simply moving and elegant'