After I had had various people compose on the scent of plum carried on the breeze.
このねぬるあさけの風にかをるなり軒ばの梅の春のはつ花
| kono nenuru asake no kaze ni kaoru nari nokiba no ume no haru no hatsubana | Having slept The dawntime breeze Is scented: Beneath my eaves the plum Shows spring’s first blossom. |
After I had had various people compose on the scent of plum carried on the breeze.
梅がかをゆめの枕にさそひきてさむるまちける春の山風
| ume ga ka o yume no makura ni sasoikite samuru machikeru haru no yamakaze | The scent of plum To my pillow, where I lay dreaming Was beckoned— Waiting ‘til I awakened did The mountain breeze in springtime. |
Plum-scented robes.
うめがかはわが衣手に匂ひきぬ花より過ぐる春の初かぜ
| ume ga ka wa wa ga koromode ni nioikinu hana yori suguru haru no hatsukaze | The fragrance of plum My sleeves has Come to scent, Carried from the blossom by The first breeze of spring. |
Plum blossom at an ancient estate.
たれにかもむかしをとはむ故郷の軒ばの梅は春をこそしれ
| tare ni kamo mukashi o towamu furusato no nokiba no ume wa haru o koso shire | Who is it that Of days long gone I might enquire? At this ancient estate The plum beneath the eaves Knows spring well, yet… |
Plum blossom at an ancient estate.
年ふればやどはあれにけり梅のはな花はむかしの香ににほへども
| toshi fureba yado wa arenikeri ume no hana hana wa mukashi no ka ni nioedomo | The years have passed, so The house has into ruin fallen, yet The plum’s blossoming Flowers, as in days long gone Scent the air with fragrance. |
30
A warbler after the rain.
春雨の露もまだひず梅がえにうは毛しをれて鶯ぞなく
| harusame no tsuyu mo mada hizu mume ga e ni uwage shiorete uguisu zo naku | The spring shower’s Dewfall’s not yet dried, but Upon the plum branch, Plumage drenched, Sings out the warbler! |
A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the Kanpyō period.
梅が香を袖にうつしてとどめてば春は過ぐとも形見ならまし
| mume ga ka wo sode ni utusite todometeba Faru Fa sugutomo katami naramasi | If only the plums’ scent Would shift to my sleeves and Stay there, then Even when spring is past and gone A keepsake would it be… |
Anonymous
Breaking off a branch of plum blossom, he sent it to a certain person.
君ならで誰にかみせん梅花色をも香をも知る人ぞ知る
| kimi narade tare ni ka misen mume no Fana iro wo mo ka wo mo siru Fito zo siru | If not to you Then to whom should I present Plum blossoms? For their shades and their scent both, It is you who know them best of all… |
Tomonori