Cicadas
夏山に鳴くなるせみのこがくれて秋ちかしとや声もをしまぬ
natsuyama ni naku naru semi no kogakurete aki chikashi to ya koe mo oshimanu | In the summer mountains Sing the cicadas Hidden in the trees— Is it the approaching autumn, that Make them unstinting with their song? |
A breeze on a river resembling autumn.
岩くぐる水にや秋のたつ田川かは風すずし夏の夕ぐれ
iwa kuguru mizu ni ya aki no tatsutagawa kawakaze suzushi natsu no yūgure | Running ‘neath the rocks Do the waters bring autumn To Tatsuta River, for The river breeze is so cool On a summer evening… |
Hunting by torchlight.
さ月やまおぼつかなきをゆふづくよこがくれてのみしかやまつらん
satsuki yama obotsukanaki o yūzukuyo kogakurete nomi shika ya matsuran | In the summer mountains Dimly does A ray of evening moonlight strike; Simply concealed between the trees Might I be waiting for a stag? |
Summer
Composed on changing clothes.
をしみこしはなのたもともぬぎかへつ人の心ぞ夏には有りける
oshimikoshi hana no tamoto mo nugikaetsu hito no kokoro zo natsu ni wa arikeru | Regretfully, Be’blossomed sleeves Have been put off and changed— In folk’s hearts, indeed, Does summer lie now. |
Round Ten
Left (Win)
よひのまぞ人をばまちしほととぎすあくるまでこそねられざりけれ
yoi no ma zo hito oba machishi hototogisu akuru made koso nerarezarikere | All night long Did I await him once, but T’is the cuckoo: Even more until the dawn, that Keeps me from my sleep! |
Shun’e
19
Right
花はすぎ紅葉はまだき夏山にをりえてもなく時鳥かな
hana wa sugi momiji wa madaki natsuyama ni oriete mo naku hototogisu kana | The blossoms are past, and Scarlet leaves have yet to come; In the summer mountains How lively sings The cuckoo! |
Kenshō
20
The Left’s poem certainly commands one’s interest.
At around the same time [Kenpō 4 (1216)] in summer, an impromptu composition.
つくばねのしげきの木のまかげはあれど秋にはかはる夏の夜の月
tsukubane no shigeki no ko no ma kage wa aredo aki ni wa kawaru natsu no yo no tsuki | On the peak of Tsukuba Between the trees so lush Shadows fall, yet In autumn ‘twill be different— The moon this summer night. |
Juntoku
Created with Soan.
A poem for a folding screen on the occasion of a Junior Consort’s entrance to the palace in Kangi 1.
風そよぐならのを川の夕ぐれはみそぎぞ夏のしるしなりける
kaze soyogu nara no ogawa no yūgure wa misogi zo natsu no shirushi narikeru | Whispers on the wind Through the oaks at Nara stream Of an evening: Lustrations, alone, of summer Are the sign.[i] |
Ietaka, Senior Third Rank
Created with Soan.
[i] An allusive variation on SKKS XV: 1376.
Composed on waiting for the moon by the water at Lord Kinzane’s residence.
夏の夜の月待つ程の手ずさみに岩もる清水いく結びしつ
natsu no yo no tuki matu Fodo no tezusami ni iFa moru simidu iku musubisitu | On a summer night, Waiting for the moon, My hands keep busy by Through the pure water dripping from the rocks Running time and time again. |
Fujiwara no Mototoshi
Created with Soan.
Topic unknown.
我がやどのそともにたてるならのはのしげみにすずむ夏はきにけり
wa ga yado no sotomo ni tateru nara no ha no shigemi ni suzumu natsu wa kinikeri | At my house, In the grounds behind stands An oak tree, leaves So lush that coolness To summer has come. |
Monk Egyō
Created with Soan.
Topic unknown.
庭のおもは月もらぬまで成りにけりこずゑになつのかげしげりつつ
niwa no omo wa tsuki moranu made narinikeri kozue ni natsu no kage shigeritsutsu | The garden’s face Untouched by drops of moonlight Has become; Upon the treetops summer’s Shadows ever lie lush. |
Former Emperor Shirakawa
Created with Soan.
'Simply moving and elegant'