On summer rain.
さみだれや蚕煩ふ桑の畑
samidare ya kaiko wazurau kuwa no hata |
This summer rain Must trouble the silkworms greatly, Out in the mulberry fields. |
(1694)
A poem from a folding screen in the Engi period.
ゆふだすきちとせをかけてあしびきの山あゐのいろはかはらざりけり
yūdasuki chi tose o kakete ashihiki no yama ai no iro wa kawarazarikeri |
Sacred mulberry cord Hung for a thousand years; Leg-wearying Indigo hue Will never fade. |
Tsurayuki
貫之
Composed as a tanabata poem.
たなばたのとわたる舟のかぢの葉にいく秋かきつ露の玉づさ
tanabata no to wataru fune no kaji no ha ni iku aki kakitsu tsuyu no tamazusa |
For the Weaver Maid, Across the narrows goes the boat; In its oar stroke – as on mulberry leaves? How many are the autumns, when writ With dewdrops are the letters… |
Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
藤原俊成
Once when the New Retired Emperor [Sutoku] was there, he command that Tadamichi compose a poem on a prospect in the midst of snowfall, so he composed the following:
くれなゐにみえしこずゑも雪ふれば白木綿かくる神無備の森
kurenawi ni miesi kozuwe mo yuki Fureba sira yuFu kakuru kaminabi no mori |
Scarlet hues Appeared on the treetops: Here with the falling snow White cords of mulberry cloth are hung In the forest of Kaminabi. |
The Chancellor and Former Grand Minister [Fujiwara no Tadamichi] (1097-1164)
In the Fourth Month of the First Year of the Ōtoku period (1084) at the Sanjō Palace he composed this on the profusion of leaves on the trees in the garden.
たまがしはにはも葉廣になりにけりこや木綿四手て神まつるころ
tamagasiFa niFa mo Fabiro ni narinikeri koya yuFu sidete kami maturu koro |
The oak trees In the garden in full fledge Do stand. Look! Mulberry streamers flutter For the gods here now! |
Major Councillor [Minamoto no] Tsunenobu