Moonflowers.
かく斗賤がふせ屋のいやしきもさかりはみゆる夕顔の花
kaku bakari
shitsu ga fuseya no
iyashiki mo
sakari wa miyuru
yūgao no hana |
Even on such
A starveling’s hovel,
So rude,
Can one see a profusion of
Moonflower blossoms. |
夕貌に尻を揃へて寢たりけり
yūgao ni
shiri o soroete
netarikeri |
With moonflowers
At their backsides, all
Are asleep. |
On moonflowers.
夕がおや武士ひとこしの裏つゞき
yūgao ya
bushi hito koshi no
ura tsuzuki |
Beyond the moonflowers,
Single-sworded samurai
Go lightly back and forth. |
On moonflowers.
夕顔や醉てかほ出す窓の穴
yūgao ya
youte kao dasu
mado no ana |
Is it for the moonflowers
That a face flushed with drink sticks out
The open window? |
(1693)
'Simply moving and elegant'