Winter

Left

冬くれば紅葉ふりしく神無月佐保の山辺はむべもりぬらん

fuyu kureba momiji furishiku kaminazuki saho no yamabe wa mube morinuran

When the winter comes, Scarlet leaves, falling and scattering In the Godless Month, Upon the slopes of Mount Saho, Indeed, are at their finest.

19

冬ごもりかれてみゆらん梅がえは今はた花の春はにほはん

fuyugomori karete miyuran ume ga e wa ima hata hana no haru wa niowan

Sealed in winter, and All withered seeming, The plum tree’s branches, Now, for sure, the blossoms’ Spring will scent.

20

冬みれば水もまかせぬ小山田にいつすき返し種をまきけん

fuyu mireba mizu mo makasenu oyamada ni itsu sukikaeshi tane o makiken

‘Tis winter, I see, so There’s no water to draw for The little mountain paddies: O, when might I till them, and Sow my seeds, I wonder?

21

Right

時雨降る宿にすまへば冬の夜に錦とみゆる木木の花かな

shigure furu yado ni sumaeba fuyu no yo ni nishiki to miyuru kigi no hana kana

Showers fall Upon the house where I do dwell, so Upon a winter’s night As brocade do seem The blossoming trees!

22

ゆふだすき神の社にかけつればしもし降るにもたのもしきかな

yūdasuki kami no yashiro ni kaketsureba shimo shi furu ni mo tanomashiki kana

Sacred mulberry cords Around the God’s shrine Are hung, so Even amidst the frost fall, The future does seem bright!

23

白雲のふたへふりしくときは山うらはへとしはみどりなりけれ

shiragumo no futae furishiku tokiwa yama ura hae toshi wa midori narikere

Clouds of white Lie scattered, twofold, upon The unchanging mountain: Stretching out behind, the year Is simply green.

24