Spring
Left
春のたつ霞の衣うらもなく年を経てこそ花の散りけれ
haru no tatsu kasumi no koromo ura mo naku toshi o hete koso hana no chirikere Spring does sew A robe of haze Without an underlay, The year passes by in A scattering of blossom
1
春の野の雪間をわけていつしかと君がためとぞ若菜摘みつる
haru no no no yuki ma o wakete itsushika to kimi ga tame to zo wakana tsumitsuru Across the springtime meadows Do I forge between the snows, Eagerly, so eagerly, For you, my Lord, Have I gathered fresh herbs!
2
春霞かすみこめたる山里はこほりとくともかげはみえじを
harugasumi kasumi kometaru yamazato wa kōri toku tomo kage wa mieji o The haze of spring Blurs all around A mountain retreat, Even were the ice to melt I could see no sign of it!
3
Right
梅枝にきゐる鶯年毎に花の匂ひをあかぬ声する
ume ga e ni ki’iru uguisu toshigoto ni hana no nioi o akanu koesuru Upon the plum tree’s branches Has come to rest the warbler; Every single year, that Of the blossoms’ scent He cannot get his fill he sings.
4
桜色に花さく雨はふりぬとも千しほぞそめてうつろふなそで
sakurairo ni hana saku ame wa furinu tomo chishio zo somete utsurou na sode Cherry-coloured Blossoms flower, as the rain Falls on, yet Dyed a thousand times Fade not, o, my sleeves!
5
青柳のいとはるばると緑なる行末までも思ひこそやれ
aoyagi no ito harubaru to midori naru yukusue made mo omoi koso yare The willow’s Branches dangle lengthily So green Right to the very end Will I fondly think of you.
6
The Seventh Night 七夜
君が代はながひこのかゆ七かへりいはふ心にあへざらめやは
kimi ga yo wa nagahiko no kayu nana kaeri iwau kokoro ni aezarame ya wa My Lord, your reign, with Rice-shoot porridge Seven times Hearts in celebration Will encounter, will it not?
Toshiyori
Felicitations 賀
つきもせぬ君がよはひはいくちよとかぎれる竹の枝にやあるらん
tsuki mo senu kimi ga yowai wa iku chiyo to kagireru take no eda ni ya aruran Inexhaustible is My Lord’s age: How many thousand generations Limit it – a bamboo Branch might know!
Daishin
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
Felicitations 賀
我が君のよはひたけたるうれしさは大宮人の身にあまるらん
wa ga kimi no yowai taketaru ureshisa wa ōmiyabito no mi ni amaruran My Lord’s Age has reached such lofty heights – Could the joy of Courtiers all Be any greater?
Kanemasa
Felicitations 賀
君が代はうれしきたびにきる杖のつもれる数を知る人ぞなき
kimi ga yo wa ureshiki tabi ni kiru tsue no tsumoreru kazu o shiru hito zo naki For my Lord’s reign This is such a joyous time – Staves of celebration cut In numbers piled so high that None can count them.
Akinaka
Sakaki 榊
しもおけど色もかはらぬさかきばは君がちとせのかざしなりけり
shimo okedo iro mo kawaranu sakakiba wa kimi ga chitose no kazashi narikeri Frost falls, yet Unchanged are the hues of Leaves upon the sacred tree: For my Lord a thousand years of Decoration will they be!
Nakazane
Preparing Tribute 貢調
御調物きみが御代にはよしの川よし心みよたえやしけると
mitsukimono kimi ga miyo ni wa yoshinogawa yoshi kokoromiyo tae ya shikeru to The tribute for My Lord’s reign is as The River Yoshino! So, just try To bring it to an end!
Tadafusa
[One of] a number of poems composed on the occasion of an embassy to Silla, exchanged in sadness at parting, or noting emotions on voyage, or ancient poems which matched the location.
武庫の浦の入江の洲鳥羽ぐくもる君を離れて恋に死ぬべし
muko no ura no
irie no sudori
pa kugumoru
kimi wo panarete
kopi ni sinubesi
At the Bay of Muko
Along the inlets seabirds
Wrapped in wings –
Parted from your embrace, my Lord,
I shall die of love.
On parting.
朝戸出の君が姿をよく見ずて長き春日を恋ひや暮らさむ
asa tode no
kimi ga sugata wo
yoku mizute
nagaki parupi wo
kopi ya kurasamu
In the morning, opening the door
My lord’s form
I could not see well, so
How through this long spring day
Can I live with my love?
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