Tag Archives: Princess Shokushi

SKKS XX: 1969

In a hundred poem sequence, on the spirit of calming the heart every day in the early morning.

しづかなるあか月ごとに見わたせばまだふかきよの夢ぞかなしき

shizukanaru
akatsuki goto ni
miwataseba
mada fukaki yo no
yume zo kanashiki
How peaceful is
Every single dawn;
I gaze out, yet
Still in the depths of night
I dream–a grief, indeed.

Princess Shokushi
式子内親王

SKKS XVIII: 1847

From a hundred poem sequence.

くるゝまもまつべきよかはあだしのゝすゑばのつゆに嵐たつ也

kururu ma mo
matsubeki yo ka wa
adashino no
sueba no tsuyu ni
arashi tatsu nari
‘Til darkness falls,
Can this world await?
At Adashino
Upon the dew-dropped leaf tips,
The storm wind has started blowing.

Princess Shokushi
式子内親王

SKKS XVII: 1672

In a hundred poem sequnce, after the passing of [her father] Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa.

おのゝえのくちしむかしはとをけれどありしにもあらぬよをもふる哉

ono no e no
kuchishi mukashi wa
tokeredo
arishi ni mo aranu
yo o mo furu kana
My axe handle
Rotted long ago
In the distant past, yet
It was, and now is not–
And I live on in this world.

Princess Shokushi
式子内親王

SKKS XVII: 1665

In the conception of a mountain dwelling, when she presented a hundred poem sequence.

いまはわれ松のはしらのすぎのいほにとづべき物をこけふかき袖

ima wa ware
matsu no hashira no
sugi no io ni
tozubeki mono o
koke fukaki sode
Now, I –
In pillars of pine and
A cedar roofed-hut
Shall remain enclosed,
Moss heavy on my sleeves.

Princess Shokushi
式子内親王

SKKS XVI: 1486

On remembering times long past, when she had served as the Shrine Priestess at Kamo.

ほとゝぎすそのかみ山のたび枕ほのかたらひしそらぞわすれぬ

hotototgisu
sono kami yama no
tabi makura
hono kataraishi
sora zo wasurenu
O, Cuckoo!
When on that holy mount
I briefly laid my head,
Faintly your call came
From the sky–never will I forget it.

Princess Shokushi
式子内親王