Composed at a Suzakuin maidenflower contest, with one of the syllables of wominaFesi at the beginning of each line:
をぐら山みねたちならしなくしかのへにけむ秋をしる人ぞなき
| wogura yama mine tatinarasi naku sika no Fenikemu aki wo siru Fito zo naki |
On Mount Ogura’s Peak, he is wont to stand: The belling stag Has passed many an autumn; The number? No one can tell. |
Tsurayuki
貫之
Composed on the road, when he was going into the Eastlands.
いとによる物ならなくにわかれぢの心ぼそくもおもほゆるかな
| ito ni yoru mono naranaku ni wakaredi no kokorobosoku mo omoFoyuru kana |
Twisting into thread Cannot be done with it, yet This parting path Runs thinly through my heart, Or, that’s how it feels, at least. |
Tsurayuki
貫之
Composed on parting from someone with whom he had spoken by a rocky spring on the way through the Shiga mountains.
むすぶてのしづくににごる山の井のあかでも人にわかれぬるかな
| musubu te no siduku ni nigoru yama no wi no akade mo Fito ni wakarenuru kana |
From cupped hands Droplets cloud The mountain spring- It’s not enough-as from you Am I parted. |
Tsurayuki
貫之
A poem composed for the four seasons screen behind the guest of honour when the Principal Handmaid celebrated the fortieth birthday of the Fujiwara Major Captain of the Right (Winter):
白雪のふりしく時はみよしのの山した風に花ぞちりける
| sira yuki no Furisiku toki Fa miyosino no yamasitakaze ni Fana zo tirikeru |
White snowflakes Falling constantly-at such a time In fair Yoshino Amid the wild winds round the mountain’s base Scatter blossoms. |
Tsurayuki
貫之
Composed for the folding screen behind Prince Motoyasu at his seventieth birthday celebrations.
春くればやどにまづさく梅花君がちとせのかざしとぞ見る
| Faru kureba yado ni madu saku mume no Fana kimi ga titose no kazasi to zo miru |
When the spring has come, First flowering at my house The plum blossoms: In your thousandth year, I see you with them in your hair. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
When His Majesty commanded him to submit a poem, he composed this and offered it.
ゆく年のをしくもあるかなますかがみ見るかげさへにくれぬと思へば
| yuku tosi no wosiku mo aru ka na masukagami miru kage saFe ni kurenu to omoFeba |
The parting year Fills me with regret For in a clear glass All I see are signs Of my own passing. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之