When a woman who had long been in the same house left, on hearing that her parents in the province of Mino were unwell.
今はとて立帰ゆくふるさとの不破の関路に都忘るな
| ima Fa tote taikaFeriyuku Furusato no Fuwa no sekidi ni miyako wasuruna |
“Now is the time,” you say Getting up to leave for Your home on The roads past the barrier of Fuwa, Don’t forget the capital! |
Fujiwara no Kiyotada (? – 958)
藤原清正
When Lord Tachibana no Tamenaka left to become Governor of Michinoku, this was presented from pantry of the Grand Empress Dowager, without any mention of who had sent it.
東路のはるけき道を行かへりいつかとくべき下紐の関
| adumadi no Farukeki miti wo yukikaFeri ituka tokubeki sitaFimo no seki |
On Eastern paths So distant Will you go, and then return When, indeed, will you undo The barrier of Shitahimo – my under-belt again? |
Anonymous
Composed at Meeting Hill, when parting from someone.
相坂の関しまさしき物ならばあかずわかるる君をとどめよ
| aFusaka no seki si masasiki mono naraba akazu wakaruru kimi wo todomeyo |
At Meeting Hill Should the barrier be true, Then On parting, ever Would I hold you here! |
Naniwa no Yorozuo
難波万雄
Sent to her when Tomonori’s daughter had gone to Michinoku.
君をのみしのぶの里へゆくものをあびつの山のはるけきやなぞ
| kimi o nomi sinobu no sato Fe yuku mono wo abitu no yama no Farukeki ya na zo |
You, alone To the estates of Shinobu Have gone; As Mount Abitsu As far, it seems! |
The Daughter of Shigemoto
滋幹女
On the first day of the Eighth Month, after His Majesty, Retired Emperor Kazan had given me a bow, and the day when I had to depart was delayed, as if to say, ‘When is it that you’re really off?’ His Majesty said:
言へばあり言はねば苦しわかれぢを
| iFeba ari iFaneba kurusi wakaredi wo |
When I say, ‘Farewell’, you linger on, but To leave it unsaid, a painful Parting, it would be… |
And I sadly replied:
そのほどゝだにいかできこえじ
| sono Fodo to dani ika de kikoezi |
If only the appointed date, I could, Somehow, leave unmentioned… |
When Tadasada, the Governor of Inaba, left for his province:
別れても立ち歸るべき仲なれどいなば戀しと思ふべきかな
| wakaretemo tatikaFerubeki naka naredo inaba koFisi to omoFubeki kana |
Though we do part, and Back must go All that was between us, yet When you are gone to Inaba, fondly Indeed, will you rest in my thoughts. |
At about the time I was made Governor of Michinoku, and was about to withdraw from court, as the pine torches were late in being lit, Middle Captain Michinobu (with Sanekata) said:
松まつほどぞ久しかりける
| matu matu Fodo zo Fisasikarikeru | Awaiting, our pining time Has been long, indeed… |
And Kodaigimi:
みちのくにほど遠ければ武隈の
| mitinoku ni Fodo towokereba takekuma no | For Michinoku Is faraway as The pine of Takekuma! |
In reply to what was written by the Gentleman-in-Waiting to the Lay Priest upon a silver water-horn, when I was to go down to Usa.
むすぶ手の別れとおもふにいとゞしくこのみづゝのに袖ぞ濡れける
| musubu te no wakare to omoFu ni itodosiku kono midutuno ni sode zo nurekeru |
Our clasped hands Parting, were in my thoughts, so Certain it was that This water-horn would Soak my sleeves. |
My reply.
忘られぬ人のうちには忘れぬを戀ふらむ人のうちに待つやは
| wasurarenu Fito no uti ni Fa wasurenu wo koFuramu Fito no uti ni matu ya Fa |
Among unforgettable Folk, you Can I forget the least; Among those longing, I wonder, do you await me most? |
Masahira, Senior Assistant Minister of Ceremonial, sent this to me in Michinoku.
都にはたれをか君は思ふらん都にはみな君を戀ふめり
| miyako ni Fa tare wo ka kimi Fa omoFuran miyako ni Fa mina kimi wo koFumeri |
Within the Capital Who is it you Hold dear? Within the Capital everyone For you is longing, it seems. |