故郷の苔の岩橋いかばかりをのれ荒ても戀わたるらん
furusato no koke no iwabashi ika bakari onore aretemo koiwataruran |
My ancient home’s Moss-hung stone-built bridges: What has become of you? Even though you fall to ruin, Shall I long for you, on and on. |
ぬれて干す山路の菊もある物を苔の袂はかはくまぞなき
nurete hosu yamaji no kiku mo aru mono o koke no tamoto wa kawaku ma zo naki |
‘Drying myself, drenched On mountain paths by chrysanthemums’ Is all very well, but My sleeves of moss Are not dry for even a moment! |
限りあれば垣根の草も春にあひぬつれなき物は苔深き袖
kagiri areba kakine no kusa mo haru ainu tsurenaki mono wa koke fukaki sode |
To all things is an end, and The plants along my latticed fence Have met with spring; yet Ever unchanged are My moss-drowned sleeves. |
In the conception of a mountain dwelling, when she presented a hundred poem sequence.
いまはわれ松のはしらのすぎのいほにとづべき物をこけふかき袖
ima wa ware matsu no hashira no sugi no io ni tozubeki mono o koke fukaki sode |
Now, I – In pillars of pine and A cedar roofed-hut Shall remain enclosed, Moss heavy on my sleeves. |
Princess Shokushi
式子内親王
On the concpetion of the beginning of spring, when he composed a hundred poem sequence at the house of the Lay Priest and Former Regent and Grand Minister.
としくれしなみだのつらゝとけにけりこけの袖にも春やたつらん
toshi kureshi namida no tsurara tokenikeri koke no sode ni mo haru ya tatsuran |
The year is done- Frozen tears Have melted; Even to moss-covered sleeves Does spring come, I wonder? |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
After the death of Sada’ie’s mother, around autumn time he was staying at a temple near her grave and composed this.
まれにくる夜はもかなしき松風をたえずやこけのしたにきくらん
mare ni kuru yo wa mo kanashiki matsu kaze o taezu ya koke no shita ni kikuran |
Rarely did I come At nights now I sorrowfully Pine trees in the wind Unceasing; with the moss Above, I wonder will I hear it? |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
After Koshikibu no Naishi had died, Izumi Shikibu had several robes which Empress Jōtōmon’in [Shōshi] had given her daughter over the years as keepsakes; when she saw notes she had made with Koshikibu, she composed:
諸共に苔の下には朽ちずして埋もれぬ名をみるぞ悲しき
morotomo ni koke no sita ni Fa kutizu site udumorenu na wo miru zo kanasiki |
With her Beneath the moss Imperishable, and Of high renown, her name: To see it is a bitter grief. |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部