The Seventh Night 七夜
つるの子のちとせをふべきはじめとは七日よりこそ祝ひ初めけれ
tsuru no ko no
chitose o fubeki
hajime to wa
nanuka yori koso
iwaisomekere | A crane chick
Shall through a thousand years pass;
The beginning is
From this seventh day, for sure, as
We begin our celebration! |
Daishin
The Seventh Night 七夜
ちとせふる祝の松のつるの子はけふすをたちて七夜なりけり
chitose furu
iwai no matsu no
tsuru no ko wa
kyō su o tachite
nanayo narikeri | Ageing for a thousand years,
A celebratory pine is where
A crane chick has
Today made her nest and
Reached her seventh night. |
Higo
The Seventh Night 七夜
おしてるや鵜のはぶきける昔もやこよひはちよと祝ひそめけん
oshiteru ya
u no habukikeru
mukashi mo ya
koyoi wa chiyo to
iwaisomeken | Bright shining,
Did the cormorants beat their wings
In times long gone, too?
Tonight, for a thousand generations
Shall we begin to celebrate! |
Kanemasa
The Seventh Night 七夜
たけならぬ二葉の松のおひ初めてこよひ七夜になりにけるかな
take naranu
futaba no matsu no
oisomete
koyoi nanayo ni
narinikeru kana | A tiny
New-leafed pine
Begins to age
From this seventh night that
It has reached! |
Tadafusa
The Seventh Night 七夜
君が代はながひこのかゆ七かへりいはふ心にあへざらめやは
kimi ga yo wa
nagahiko no kayu
nana kaeri
iwau kokoro ni
aezarame ya wa | My Lord, your reign, with
Rice-shoot porridge
Seven times
Hearts in celebration
Will encounter, will it not? |
Toshiyori
The Seventh Night 七夜
君まして今夜七よになりぬればこれよりちよをかぞふべきかな
kimi mashite
koyoi nanayo ni
narinureba
kore yori chiyo o
kazoubeki kana | Truly, have you
This night your seventh night
Reached, so
Henceforth a thousand generations
Must I count for you! |
Nakazane
The Seventh Night 七夜
しらいとをむすべることぞこよひまでいく万代のかずつもるらん
shira’ito o
musberu koto zo
koyoi made
iku yorozuyo no
kazu tsumoruran | With threads of white
Have you been bound
Up to this night, that
Uncounted myriads of ages
May mount up for you henceforth |
Akinaka
'Simply moving and elegant'