Composed at a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the same era.
契りけむ心ぞつらきたなばたの年にひとたびあふはあふかは
| tigiriken kokoro zo turaki tanabata no tosi ni Fito tabi aFu Fa aFu ka Fa |
The vow Of a pitiless heart: The Weaver Maid, But once a year Will meet; can it be true? |
Fujiwara no Okikaze
藤原興風
During the Kanpyō Era [889-897], on the night of the Seventh Day, His Majesty [Emperor Uda] commanded the gentlemen waiting upon him to compose poems; Tomonori composed this poem in place of someone else.
天河あさせしら浪たどりつつわたりはてねばあけぞしにける
| ama no kaFa asase shiranami tadoritutu watariFateneba ake zo sinikeru |
The River of Heaven has Shallows-white wave marked-in ignorance Searching, searching and Unable to cross, yet The dawn has broken. |
Ki no Tomonori (Fl. ca. ?850-?904)
紀友則
Envoy:
天の川霧立ちわたる今日今日と我が待つ君し舟出すらしも
| ama nö kapa kïri tati wataru kepu kepu tö wa ga matu kimi si puna desurasi mo |
On heaven’s river The mists rise and drift across “It’s today! Today!” My awaited lord Has set off in his boat, I think. |
The above poems are said to have been composed by the Major Captain of the Central Palace Guards Headquarters, from the house of the Northern Lord Fujiwara [Fujiwara no Fusasaki (681 – 737)].
A poem on Tanabata, with tanka.
久方の 天の川原に 上つ瀨に 玉橋渡し 下つ瀨に 舟浮け据ゑ 雨降りて 風吹かずとも 風吹きて 雨降らずとも 裳濡らさず やまず來ませと 玉橋渡す
| pisakata no ama no kapara ni kami tu se ni tamapasi watasi simo tu se ni pune ukesuwe ame purite kaze pukazu to mo kaze pukite ame purazu to mo mo nurasazu yamazu kimase to tamapasi watasu |
On the eternal Course of heaven’s river, Over the upper shoals Spans the bridge of jewels; By the downstream shallows A boat floats ready; When rain falls Without a breath of wind And wind blows Without a drop of rain, “Not wetting your skirt, Don’t wait, come to me!” I cross the bridge of jewels. |
Fujiwara no Fusasaki