A poem composed by Yakamochi, Lord Ōtomo, on arrival at a maiden’s gate.
かくしてやなほや罷らむ近からぬ道の閒をなづみ參ゐ來て
kakusite ya
napo ya makaramu
tikakaranu
miti nö apida wo
nadumi mawikite |
Is that it?
Am I to leave now?
A not inconsiderable
Way along the road
Having struggled? |
白栲の袖の別れは惜しけども思ひ亂れて許しつるかも
sirotapë nö
sode nö wakare pa
wosikedömo
omopimidarete
yurusituru ka mo |
White mulberry cloth
Sleeves parted from one another:
How difficult I find it, yet,
Such is the tumult of my thoughts,
I forgave his leaving. |
Anonymous
玉桙の道行き疲れ稻席しきても君を見むよしもがも
tamapokö nö
miti yuki tukare
inamusirö
sikitemo kimi wo
mimu yösi mo ga mo |
Jewelled spear straight
My road: exhausted
A rice-straw mat
I spread, wishing
For a way to see you. |
Anonymous
'Simply moving and elegant'