Composed at the bridge at Nagara.
橋柱ながらましかば流れての名をこそ聞かめ跡を見ましや
| Fasibasira nagaramasikaba nagarete no na wo koso kikame ato wo mimasi ya |
These bridge pillars Were there not at Nagara, Should the current of the world Bring the name to one’s ears, Would one even see its traces? |
Former Major Councillor Kintō
前大納言公任
Composed to accompany a painting of the few remains of the bridge at Naraga on a folding screen for His Majesty, during the Tenryaku era.
葦間より見ゆる長柄の橋柱昔の跡のしるべなりけり
| asima yori miyuru nagara no Fasibasira mukasi no ato no sirube narikeri |
From between the reeds Can one see at Nagara The bridge pillars: A trace from long ago To guide us now… |
Fujiwara no Kiyotada
藤原清正
After some time had passed, composed on the bridge at Nagara on the way to Naniwa.
親も子もつひのわかれのかなしきはながらへゆけど忘れやはする
| oya mo ko mo tuFi no wakare no kanasiki Fa nagaraFe yukedo wasure ya Fa suru |
For father and for son The final parting is So sad; I live on and on, yet Am I to forget it? |
At a time when he was seeing a woman, he had cause to go to Nagara in the Province of Tsu and sent this to her house.
忘るやとながらへゆけど身にそひて戀しきことはをくれざりけり
| wasuru ya to nagara Fe yukedo mi ni soFite koFisiki koto Fa wokurezarikeri |
‘Will he forget me?’ you might think- I may be long gone in Nagara, yet My heart is yours- My love I would never leave behind. |
Written beside [a picture of] the Bridge of Nagara on a folding screen [made for] the [sixtieth birthday] celebrations of the Lay Priest Chancellor [Fujiwara no Kaneie (929-990)].
朽ちもせぬ長柄の橋の橋柱久しきほどの見えもするかな
| kuti mo senu nagara no Fasi no Fasibasira Fisasiki Fodo no mie mo suru kana |
Never touched by decay, The bridge of Nagara’s Bridge pillars Endure and so Will you, I’d say. |