A poem on a pine tree in Shigeoka in Atomi, by Ki no Shikahito
茂岡に神さび立ちて栄えたる千代松の木の年の知らなく
| sigewoka ni kamusabi tatite sakaetaru tiyo matu no ki no tosi no siranaku | In Shigeoka Divinely stands Flourishing A pine for a thousand generations All unknowing of the passing years. |
Ki no Shikahito
紀鹿人
Left (Tie)
昔聞く君が手馴れの琴ならば夢に知られて音をも立てまし
| mukashi kiku kimi ga tenare no koto naraba yume ni shirarete ne o mo tatemashi |
Long ago, I heard Your favourite Zither play – if that were me, then In your dreams I would be known, and Make a sound most sweet within your sleep… |
Lord Sada’ie
1093
Right
わぎも子が心のひかぬ琴の音は我まつにこそ通はざりけれ
| wagimoko ga kokoro no hikanu koto no ne wa wa ga matsu ni koso kayowazarikere |
My darling’s Heartstrings are not tugged By my zither’s strains, so Though I pine for her ‘Tis of no use at all… |
The Supernumerary Master of the Empress’ Household Office
1094
The Right state: the Left’s poem gives the impression of being based on something – but what? The Left state: the Right’s poem has no faults to mention.
In judgement: there is nothing unusual about the Left’s poem. It simply seems to be in the conception of the Man’yōshū poem where, ‘a Japanese zither made from the wood of the parasol tree transforms into a maiden in a dream, and says “When will / The day come that / I shall sing / Making his lap / My pillow?”’ I also have the feeling that it is alluding to the subsequent poem, however. So, it is certainly not the case that it is not based on anything. The Right’s poem has ‘heartstrings are not tugged’ (kokoro no hikanu) and then the metaphorical ‘though I pine for her’ (wa ga matsu ni koso), so is certainly not lacking in conception either. They are equivalent and tie.
Left (Win).
夜とともに玉散る床の菅枕見せばや人に夜半の景色を
| yo to tomo ni tama tiru toko no sugamakura miseba ya Fito ni yowa no kesiki wo |
Together with the night Gemlets scatter on my bed’s Sedge-filled pillow; Should I show her This midnight sight? |
The Master 大夫
[Minamoto no Toshiyori 源俊頼]
27
Right.
波のよる岩根に立てる磯馴れ松また寝もいらで恋ひあかしつる
| nami no yoru iFane ni tateru sonare matu mata ne mo irade koFi akasituru |
The waves roll in To the cliffs where stands A hardy pine upon the rocks; Once more sleepless From love do I greet the dawn. |
The Assistant Master 佐
[Fujiwara no Mototoshi 藤原基俊]
28
君が代を尾上の松にくらべむに幾代の春か逢はむとすらむ
| kimi ga yo o onoe no matsu ni kurabemu ni ikuyo no haru ka awamu to suramu |
My Lord, your reign To the pines of Onoe Will be compared! Everlastingly spring Will it encounter! |
Fujiwara no Akisuke
藤原顕輔
When the gentlemen and ladies of the household of the Minister of the Left were getting dressed for a coming-of-age ceremony.
大原やをしほの山のこまつ原はや木高かれ千代の影みむ
| oFoFara ya wosiFo no yama no komatubara haya ko takakare tiyo no kage mimu |
At Ōhara, On Oshio Mountain The young pine saplings Will grow swiftly into mighty trees and See a thousand generations pass! |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
這う蔦のなきよなりせば松が枝にかかる紅葉の色を見ましや
| hau tsuta no nakiyo nariseba matsu ga e ni kakaru momiji no iro o mimashi ya |
Trailing ivy: Were there none in this world, Upon the pine boughs Clinging scarlet leaves’ Hues would I see? |
Minamoto no Tadafusa
源忠房
On scarlet ivy, clinging to a pine tree overlooking the ocean.
紅葉する蔦しかかればおのづから松もあたなる名ぞ立ちぬべき
| momidisuru tuta sika kareba onodukara matu mo adanaru na zo tatinubeki |
Turning scarlet, The ivy does entangle it, so That it’s done it by itself, Will the pine a certain Reputation achieve! |
Izumi Shikibu
和泉式部
A poem from the Kamo winter festival.
ちはやぶるかものやしろのひめこまつよろづ世ふともいろはかはらじ
| tiFayaburu kamo no yasiro no Fimekomatu yoroduyo Futomo iro Fa kaFarazi |
At puissant Kamo Shrine, The Princess’ pine, Though ten thousand ages pass Will never change her hue! |
Fujiwara no Toshiyuki
藤原敏行
いざさらば鳴海のうらに家ゐせむいとはるかなる末の松とも
| iza saraba narumi no uti ni iFe wisemu ito Farukanaru suwe no matu tomo |
So, then, so be it! At Narumi Will I make my home! So very far away among The pine tops… |
A poem composed later by Yamanoue no omi Okura.
翼なすあり通ひつつ見らめども人こそ知らね松は知るらむ
| tubasa nasu arigayopitutu miramedomo pito koso sirane matu pa siruramu |
Bearing wings His soul does traverse the skies; The sight Means nothing to men, but The pine, alone, understands. |
Yamanoue no Okura