Love as a Month Passes 経月恋
衣手もくちはてぬべしあふことの月をへだててとはぬうらみに
| koromode mo kuchihatenubeshi au koto no tsuki o hedatete towanu urami ni | Even my sleeves Must have rotted all away! For we met and then A month has passed Without a word – how I hate you for it! |
Higo
Love as a Month Passes 経月恋
衣手もなかにはしばしおかざりき月をへだつる君やなになり
| koromode mo naka ni wa shibashi okazariki tsuki o hedatsuru kimi wa nani nari | Even upon my sleeves, or Within, has it for a while Not come to rest: That moon – while it has interfered What of you, my love? |
Nakazane
Love Interrupted by a Single Night 隔一夜恋
たちまちにかはりしもせじから衣一夜ばかりに袖のぬるらん
| tachimachi ni kawarishi mo seji karakoromo hito yo bakari ni sode no nururan | A sudden Change will there be not – My Cathay robe For just this single night Will surely have soaked sleeves. |
Higo
Gosechi 五節
をとめ子が袖ふりそめしをみ衣とよのあかりにたえせざりけり
| otomego ga sode furisomeshi omigoromo toyo no akari ni taesezarikeri | The maidens Have begun to wave the sleeves of Their purification robes; The Festival of New Grain Has endured for ever! |
Nakazane
Gosechi 五節
をとめ子が雲のうへにて袖ふれば日影にまがふあまの羽衣
| otomego ga kumo no ue nite sode fureba hikage ni magau ama no hagoromo | The maidens are Above the clouds Sleeves waving, so Indistinguishable from sunlight are Their heavenly gossamer robes! |
Akinaka
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
結ぶ手の袂涼しくなりゆくは泉に秋のすむにやあるらむ
| musubu te no tamoto suzushiku nariyuku wa izumi ni aki no sumu ni ya aruramu | Cupped, my hands; How cool my sleeves Are becoming Is it that by a spring that autumn Does seem to dwell? |
Yōen/Eien (1048-1125)
永縁
Summer Garb (夏衣)
いつしかと花のたもとをぬぎかへてうすき衣のうらめしきかな
| itsushika to hana no tamoto o nugikaete usuki koromo no urameshiki kana | Suddenly, Blossom laden sleeves have I removed and changed for Gossamer garb – How I do despise it! |
Daishin
A poem on travel.
君がため浮沼の池の菱摘むと我が染めし袖濡れにけるかも
| kimi ga tame ukinu no ike no pisi tumu to wa ga somesi sode nurenikeru kamo | For you, my love, At Ukinu Pond Picking water chestnuts, These sleeves I’ve dyed Have become completely drenched! |
Kakinomoto no Hitomaro Collection
柿本人麻呂歌集
Lingering Cold
衣手のうすきや春の関ならん我が身はいとどしみこほりつつ
| koromode no usuki ya haru no seki naran wa ga mi wa itodo shimikōritsutsu | Do my sleeves, So scanty, spring’s Barrier-gate mark? My flesh is still so Pierced with icy chills! |
Toshiyori