When the Hoshō-ji Lay Priest and Former Grand Minister [Fujiwara no Michinaga] plucked a maidenflower, and said Murasaki Shikibu must be able to compose an appropriate poem.
をみなへしさかりの色をみるからにつゆのわきける身こそしらるれ
ominaeshi
sakari no iro o
miru kara ni
tsuyu no wakikeru
mi koso shirarure
The maidenflowers’
Hues are at their best,
I see, so
The dewfall must have distinguished
‘Tween them and me–how well I know it!
Murasaki Shikibu
紫式部
Composed on maidenflowers.
をみなへし夜のまの風に折れふして今朝しも露に心をかるな
wominaFesi
yo no ma no kaze ni
oreFusite
kesa simo tuyu ni
kokoro wokaru na
The maidenflowers
By the nightwinds
Are bent to the ground
This morning, though the dewfall
Let it refrain.
The Regent and Minister of the Left [Fujiwara no Tadamichi]
When women came to the garden in front of his residence:
こゝにしも何にほふらん女朗花人の物言ひさがにくき世に
koko ni si mo
nani niFoFuran
wominaFesi
Fito no mono’iFi
saganikuki yo ni
In such a place
Why do they bloom,
These maidenflowers?
Though people’s tongues
Are full of malice in this world.
Archbishop Henjō
僧正遍照
Topic unknown.
秋ののになまめきたてるをみなへしあなかしかまし花もひと時
aki no no ni
namamekitateru
wominaFesi
ana kasikamasi
Fana mo Fito toki
In the autumn fields
Are so many charming
Maiden flowers:
But, oh, so rowdy!
At least they blossom briefly!
Archbishop Henjō
僧正遍照
Composed during the reign of Emperor Uda when men from the Chamberlain’s Office were composing poems when about to return from Sagano, where they had gone to view the flowers.
花にあかでなにかへるらむをみなへしおほかるのべにねなましものを
Fana ni akade
nani kaFeruran
wominaFesi
oFokaru nobe ni
nenamasi mono wo
Still unsated by the blooms,
So why return home?
The maidenflowers
Fill this meadow:
Here’s where I would sleep!
Taira no Sadafun
平定文
Composed when he was on his way somewhere and saw maidenflowers planted at a house.
をみなへしうしろめたくも見ゆるかなあれたるやどにひとりたてれば
wominaFesi
usirometaku mo
miyuru kana
aretaru yado ni
Fitori tatereba
Oh, maidenflower,
How troubling
To see
A house all overgrown
With but a single bloom .
Prince Kanemi
Composed and presented at the maidenflower [poetry] competition at the Suzaku Palace .
ひとりのみながむるよりは女郞花わがすむやどにうゑて見ましを
Fitori nomi
nagamuru yori Fa
wominaFesi
wa ga sumu yado ni
uFete mimasi wo
All alone in
Gloomy gazing-far better,
Maidenflower ,
To plant you at my house,
To catch my eye.
Tadamine
忠岑
Composed and presented at the maidenflower [poetry] competition at the Suzaku Palace.
人の見る事やくるしきをみなへし秋ぎりにのみたちかくるらむ
Fito no miru
koto ya kurusiki
wominaFesi
akigiri ni nomi
tatikakururan
For man to gaze on you,
Is it so painful,
Maidenflower ,
That in the autumn mists
You must hide away?
Tadamine
忠岑
Composed and presented at the maidenflower [poetry] competition at the Suzaku Palace .
女郞花ふきすぎてくる秋風はめには見えねどかこそしるけれ
wominaFesi
Fukisugitekuru
aki kaze Fa
me ni Fa mienedo
ka koso sirukere
Maidenflowers:
Blowing through them comes
The Autumn wind;
My eyes do not see it-
The scent tells the tale.
Mitsune
躬恒
Composed and presented at the maidenflower [poetry] competition at the Suzaku Palace .
たが秋にあらぬものゆゑをみなへしなぞ色にいでてまだきうつろふ
ta ga aki ni
aranu mono yuFe
wominaFesi
nazo iro ni idete
madaki uturoFu
Alone for you Autumn
Has not come,
Maidenflowers ,
So why do you colour
So swiftly, then fade?
Tsurayuki
貫之
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