Gazing at the blossom, on a night when the moon was particularly charming.
あたら夜の月と花とをおなじくはあはれしれらむ人にみせばや
| atarayo no tuki to Fana to wo onaziku Fa aFare sireramu Fito ni miseba ya | This fresh night’s Moon and blossom, too, Are both same: If only to one whose feelings are profound I could show them… |
Minamoto no Sane’akira
On the moon by the sea, for a poetry match held at the Poetry Office.
和歌のうらに月のでしほのさすままによるなくつるの声ぞかなしき
| waka no ura ni tsuki no deshio no sasu mama ni yoru naku tsuru no koe zo kanashiki | Above the Bay of Waka The moon emerges and upon Deshio As it shines At night the crying cranes’ Calls are sad, indeed. |
Former Major Archbishop Jien
Autumn
秋のよを吹あげの峰の木がらしによこ雲しらぬ山のはの月
| aki no yo o fukiage no mine no kogarashi ni yokogumo shiranu yama no ha no tsuki | On an autumn night Above Fukiage peak To the chill wild wind’s Streaming clouds paying no heed is The moon upon the mountain’s edge. |
Ietaka
A poem on the moon, when she presented a hundred poem sequence.
ながめわびぬあきよりほかのやどもがな野にも山にも月やすむらん
| nagame wabinu aki yori hoka no yado mogana no ni mo yama ni mo tsuki ya sumuran | Suffering and sorrowing— Other than in autumn Might I find lodging? Though Above the fields and mountains, too, The moon shines so clear…[1] |
Princess Shokushi
[1] An allusive variation on KKS XVIII: 947.
Composed gazing at the moon, the year after Lord Minamoto no Tameyoshi had died.
いのちあればことしの秋も月はみつわかれし人にあふよなきかも
| inochi areba kotoshi no aki mo tsuki wa mitsu wakareshi hito ni au yo naki kamo | I have life, so This year in autumn, too, I have gazed upon the moon, but Parted from him, No more nights of meeting in this world there’ll be. |
Monk Nōin
Composed on the moon at dawn on the road to a barrier, while at the Shirakawa residence of the former Uji Grand Minister.
あり明の月もし水にやどりけりこよひはこえじあふさかの関
| ariake no tuki mo simizu ni yadorikeri koyoFi Fa koezi aFusaka no seki | The dawntime Moon within pure water Has lodged; Tonight I’ll not pass The barrier at Meeting Hill. |
Lord Fujiwara no Norinaga
Composed gazing at the moon over Hirosawa.
すむ人もなき山ざとのあきの夜は月のひかりもさびしかりけり
| sumu Fito mo naki yamazato no aki no yo Fa tuki no Fikari mo sabisikarikeri | No folk dwell around This mountain retreat, where On an autumn night The moon’s very light is Filled with lonliness. |
Lord Fujiwara no Norinaga
When a Hundred Poem Sequence was presented to former Emperor Gotoba in Kenpo 4 [1216].
秋の夜の月にいくたびながめして物おもふことの身につもるらん
| aki no yo no tsuki ni ikutabi nagameshite mono’omou koto no mi ni tsumoruran | Upon an autumn night’s Moon how many times Have I gazed out, while Gloomy thoughts Pile ever higher upon me?[i] |
Consultant Masatsune
[i] An allusive variation on SIS VIII: 432.
On gazing at the moon.
世にふるに物思ふとしもなけれども月にいくたびながめしつらん
| yo ni Furu ni mono’omoFu to simo nakeredomo tuki ni ikutabi nagamesituran | Passing through this world Gloomy thoughts alway I have not, yet During this moon how many times Might I have gazed out here? |
Minister of Central Affairs, Prince Tomohira
On the conception of the moon in winter after the rain.
いまはとてねなましものをしぐれつる空ともみえずすめる月かな
| ima wa tote nenamashi mono o shiguretsuru sora tomo miezu sumeru tsuki kana | Now, I think, I would to bed, yet The showers that Filled the skies have vanished, and The moon shines so clear! |
Monk Ryōzen
