Composed on the final day of the Waterless Month.
夏と秋と行きかふそらのかよひぢはかたへすずしき風やふくらむ
| natu to aki yukikaFu sora no kayoFidi Fa kataFe suzusiki kaze ya Fukuramu |
As Summer and Autumn Pass each other on the sky’s Byways, From one side does a cool Breeze blow, I wonder? |
Mitsune
躬恒
When a servant was sent over from the neighbouring house with a request for some flowering pinks, he was reluctant, composing this poem sent it back.
ちりをだにすゑじとぞ思ふさきしよりいもとわがぬるとこ夏のはな
| tiri wo dani suwezi to zo omoFu sakisi yori imo to wa ga nuru tokonatu no Fana |
Not even dust May touch them, I feel, Since they’ve bloomed, Where my love and I bed down On pink coverlets of flowers. |
Mitsune
躬恒
Composed after midnight, when the moon was shining beautifully.
夏の夜はまだよひながらあけぬるを雲のいづこに月やどるらむ
| natu no yo Fa mada yoFi nagara akenuru wo kumo no iduko ni tuki yadoruramu |
On summer nights It’s just past sundown, and Already dawn is breaking, But, where amongst the clouds Does the moon find lodging? |
Fukayabu
深養父
Composed when some courtiers, drinking wine the Attendance Chamber, called him in and told him to compose a poem on ‘waiting for the cuckoo.’
ほととぎすこゑもきこえず山びこはほかになくねをこたへやはせぬ
| Fototogisu kowe mo kikoezu yamabiko Fa Foka ni naku ne wo kotaFe ya Fa senu |
The cuckoo’s Call is silent- But an echo Of a song sung elsewhere, Might not that return to us? |
Mitsune
躬恒
A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, in the Kanpyō period.
くるるかと見ればあけぬるなつのよをあかずとやなく山郭公
| kururu ka to mireba akenuru natu no yo wo akazu to ya naku yama Fototogisu |
Did you think ’twas sunset? When a glance would show the breaking dawn Of this summer night- Unsated by your song, do you sing on, Cuckoo in the mountains? |
Mibu no Tadamine
壬生忠岑
A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, in the Kanpyô period.
夏の夜のふすかとすれば郭公なくひとこゑにあくるしののめ
| natu no yo no Fusu ka to sureba Fototogisu naku Fito kowe ni akuru sinonome |
On a summer night, I wonder if I should to bed, and then A cuckoo Gives a single cry and Bright dawn breaks. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, in the Kanpyō period.
やどりせし花橘もかれなくになどほととぎすこゑたえぬらむ
| yadorisesi Fana tatibana mo karenaku ni nado Fototogisu kowe taenuran |
Your resting place: The orange blossoms Are yet in bloom, So why, oh, cuckoo, Has your voice failed? |
Ōe no Chisato
大江千里