Composed in the conception of Love met at lodgings while travelling, at a poetry competition held at the house of the Regent, when he was Minister of the Right.
難波江の蘆のかりねの一夜ゆへ身をつくしてや戀ひわたるべき
| naniFa e no asi no karine no Fito yo yuFe mi wo tukusite ya koFi watarubeki |
In Naniwa Bay, The cut reeds’ roots (A journey’s night) (So short) and but a single one-for that Will my breast exhaust itself With constant yearning? |
Kōkamon’in no Bettō
Composed in the conception of love’s beginning, when he took part in a hundred poem sequence during the reign of Retired Emperor Horikawa.
難波江の藻にうづもるゝ玉かしはあらはれてだに人を戀ひばや
| naniFae no mo ni udumoruru tamakasiFa araFarete dani Fito wo koFi ba ya |
In the bay of Naniwa Seaweed-covered Gemstone rocks Appear-just so Does my love for her. |
Minamoto no Toshiyori
源俊頼
When he had gone to the province of Settsu and started to live in seclusion, feeling frustrated about his personal circumstances.
難波津を今日こそみつの浦ごとにこれやこの世をうみわたる舟
| naniFa tu wo keFu koso mitu no ura goto ni kore ya kono yo wo umiwataru Fune |
The port of Naniwa I have seen today: an imperial port And on the beach every One, the world’s Seas sails (so sad): those boats. |
Narihira
業平
When he had gone to Naniwa, he met with rain on Tamino Island and composed this poem:
あめによりたみのの島をけふゆけど名にはかくれぬ物にぞ有りける
| ame ni yori tamino no sima wo keFu yukedo na ni Fa kakurenu mono ni zo arikeru | On account of rain To Tamino Isle, raincoat clad, I went today, yet Naniwa, so well-known, conceals The place! |
Tsurayuki
貫之
A poem, with tanka, composed by Kanamura, Lord Kasa, on the occasion of an Imperial visit to the Naniwa Palace in winter, Tenth Month.
おしてる 難波の國は 葦垣の 古りにし里と 人皆の 思ひやすみて つれもなく ありし閒に 續麻なす 長柄の宮に 眞木柱 太高敷きて 食す國を 治めたまへば 沖つ鳥 味經の原に もののふの 八十伴の男は 廬りして 都成したり 旅にはあれども
| ositeru nanipa nö kuni pa asikaki nö puri ni si sato tö pitö mina nö omopiyasumite ture mo naku ari si apida ni umiwo nasu nagara nö miya ni makïbasira puto taka sikite wosukuni wo wosametamapaba oki tu töri adipu nö para ni monönöpu nö yaso tömo nö wo pa ipori site miyako nasitari tabi ni pa aredömo |
The bright shining Land of Naniwa is a Reed-fenced Ancient home: All men Forgot it and Cared not, But then As drawn hemp thread, At Nagara a palace With fine wood pillars Was raised broad and high For His realm He rules As birds offshore On the field of Ajifu, As warriors His many men Built a shelter, Making a capital Though on a journey. |
海原のゆたけき見つつ葦が散る難波に年は經ぬべく思ほゆ
| unapara nö yutakëki mitutu asi ga tiru nanipa ni tö pa penubëku omopoyu |
Out across the sea’s Wide sweep I gaze; Among scattered reeds At Naniwa my years I would pass away, I feel. |
The above poems are by Yakamochi, Lord Ōtomo, Junior Assistant Minister at the War Ministry, on the 13th day of the the Second Month.