Composed one night when the moon was shining brightly and the Major Captain was playing the koto.
琴の音にあやなく今宵ひかされて月みであかすなげきをやせむ
| koto no ne ni ayanaku koyoFi Fikasarete tuki mide akasu nageki wo ya semu |
The strains of your koto, Alas, this eve Are so entrancing, that The moon, unwatched, shall set, I fear… |
When I had been speaking with Lady Hyōe, in service to the Empress, and she had withdrawn extremely early, the following morning:
久かたの天のとながら見し月の飽かで入りにし空ぞこひしき
| Fisakata no ama no to nagara misi tuki no akade irinisi sora zo koFisiki |
The eternal Gates of Heaven these are not, yet Of the glimpsed moon I cannot have my fill; out of sight Within the skies—there shall all my longing be… |
When I had a passion for a lady at the palace, and she had said she might meet me herself, but had left without sending word.
おもへ君ちぎらぬ宵の月だにも人に知られで出づるものかは
| omoFe kimi tigiranu yoFi no tuki dani mo Fito ni sirarede iduru mono ka Fa |
Think on this, my lady! Footloose in the night is The moon; would even she, Telling not a soul, Depart? |
When the moon was shining brightly and I was conversing with a lady, we heard the plovers call:
濱千鳥いづこに鳴くぞ月まつと
| Fama tidori iduko ni naku zo tuki matu to |
Plovers on the beach: Where do they cry? While waiting for the moon… |
I said, and she concluded:
あかしの浦とおもふなるべし
| akasi no ura to omoFunarubesi |
Bright Akashi Bay Must be their thought! |
Around the Eighth Month on a night when the moon was bright, Former Emperor Kazan said we should compose a poem in an incorrect format:
秋の夜に山ほとゝぎす鳴かませば
| aki no yo ni yama Fototogisu nakamaseba |
On an autumn night Should a mountain cuckoo Burst into song |
I concluded:
垣根の月や花と見えまし
| kakine no tuki ya hana to miemasi |
The moon upon fence Might seem as blossom. |
Awaiting love, on seeing the moon.
こぬ人を待としらでやゝどるらん槇の板戸のいざよひの月
| konu hito o matsu to shirade ya yadoruran maki no itado no izayoi no tsuki |
That one who comes not I await, all unknowing – Will it stay with me, I wonder – Shines upon my fine wood door The wavering early evening moon. |