Waterfalls 滝
たなばたのおりながしたる布なれや空よりおつる滝の気色は
tanabata no orinagashitaru nuno nare ya sora yori otsuru taki no keshiki wa | Has the Weaver Maid Spun out a stream Of cloth? From the skies tumbles A waterfall – or so it looks! |
Toshiyori
Waterfalls 滝
たなばたのおりながしたる布なれや空よりおつる滝の気色は
tanabata no orinagashitaru nuno nare ya sora yori otsuru taki no keshiki wa | Has the Weaver Maid Spun out a stream Of cloth? From the skies tumbles A waterfall – or so it looks! |
Toshiyori
七夕を祀る心はひとつにて願ひの糸は自が筋筋
tanabata o matsuru kokoro wa hitotsu nite negai no ito wa ono ga sujisuji |
At Tanabata, Worshipful hearts Are all as one; The threads of prayers Are all our own, each and every one! |
Minamoto no Yorimasa
七夕のなかの緒を絶えぬ秋ごとに逢ふ言の葉ぞ奉りつる
tanabata no naka no o taenu akigoto ni au koto no ha zo tatematsuritsuru |
The Weaver Maid’s Zither string snaps Every autumn, so To match her, words Are what we offer. |
百草の花のけぶりや七夕の雲の衣の袖に染むらむ
momokusa no hana no keburi ya tanabata no kumo no koromo no sode ni shimuramu |
Are all the grasses Blooms, a smoke, that into The Weaver Maid’s Robe of cloud’s Sleeves will sink? |
Fujiwara no Shunzei
On the 21st day of the Fifth Month Tenroku 4 [973], former emperor En’yū, who was then the sovereign, visited the Princess of the First Order [Shishi 資子] and, following a loss at a game with go counters, on the 7th day of the Seventh Month, the Princess had a fan wrapped in thin cloth and presented to the imperial pantry.
天の川河辺涼しき七夕に扇の風を猶やかさまし
ama no kaFa kaFabe suzusiki tanabata ni aFugi no kaze wo naFo ya kasamasi |
On the River of Heaven’s Shore, cool In early autumn Is this fan’s breeze: I wonder, should I lend it you more? |
Nakatsukasa
This poem is also Wakan rōeishū 201.
Left (Win).
天川秋の七日を眺めつゝ雲のよそにも思ひけるかな
ama no kawa no aki no nanoka o nagametsutsu kumo no yoso ni mo omoikeru kana |
On the River of Heaven, in Autumn on the Seventh Day I turn my gaze For beyond the clouds Fly my thoughts… |
735
Right.
かゝりける契ならずは七夕の心のほどをいかで知らまし
kakarikeru chigiri naraba tanabata no kokoro no hodo o ikade shiramashi |
If such A bond as ours, it was not, The celestial lovers’ Hearts I could never understand. |
736
Both Left and Right state: we find no faults to mention, other than the old-fashioned nature of this poem
In judgement: the Left’s poem seems to sound well. It should win.
On the Seventh Day of the Seventh Month, on the feelings of the Weaver Maid at parting:
別るれど待ては頼もしたなばたのこのよに逢はぬ仲をいかにせむ
wakaruredo mateba tanomosi tanabata no kono yo ni aFanu naka wo ikani semu |
Though they must part If she but waits, trust can The Weaver Maid; Unmet this night, What is to become of us… |
On the Seventh Day of the Seventh Month, on a little boat:
天の河かよふ浮木の年を經ていくそかへりの秋をしるらむ
ama no kaFa kayoFu ukigi no tosi wo Fete iku so kaFeri no aki wo siruramu |
The River of Heaven Traversing, this raftlet O’er the passing years Countless Autumns must have known. |
Her reply:
彦星の心も知らずうちとけてそのあふことを上の空にな
Fikobosi no kokoro mo sirazu utitokete sono aFu koto wo uFe no sora ni na |
Of the Herd Boy’s Feelings you know naught! ’tis careless, indeed, Our tryst to The Heavens refuse… |
To Lady Chujō, on the Seventh Day of the Seventh Month.
返さずは程もこそ經れあふ事をいかに貸すべき今日の暮をば
kaFesazu Fa Fodo mo koso Fure aFu koto wo ika ni kasubeki keFu no kure wo ba |
Should she not return it, Time would, indeed, pass, Before we could meet again; Why would you lend her Our meeting on this evening? |