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