From the Poetry Match held in the reign of the Tenryaku Emperor.
恋すてふ我が名はまだき立にけり人知れずこそ思そめしか
| koFisu teFu wa ga na Fa madaki tatinikeri Fito sirezu koso omoFisomesika | Of my love Have rumours swiftly Arisen, though Unknown to all Had my passion’s fire begun to burn… |
Mibu no Tadami
忍ぶれど物思ふ人はうき雲の空に恋する名をのみぞたつ
| shinoburedo mono’omou hito wa ukigumo no sora ni koisuru na o nomi zo tatsu | I kept it secret, yet She, who is the focus of my thoughts, is As a drifting cloud Within the sky, and of my love Rumours, alone, do rise toward her. |
Middle Captain Morotoki, Fourth Rank
19
恋すともいかでか空に名はたたじ忍ぶる程は袖につつまで
| koisu to mo ikade ka sora ni na wa tataji shinoburu hodo wa sode ni tsutsumade | You love, so How is it that the skies Could remain untouched by rumours? Your secret You’ve not kept wrapped within your sleeves… |
Lady Aki, in service to the Empress Dowager
20
A poem composed by Prince Mishima in mourning for Matsura no Sayohime.
音に聞き目にはいまだ見ず佐用姫が領巾振りきとふ君松浦山
| oto ni kiki me ni pa imada mizu sayopime ga pire puriki topu kimi maturayama |
Rumours I have heard, but My eyes have yet to behold where Sayohime Waved her stole, they say, Pining for her man on Matsura Mountain! |