A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the Kanpyō period.
吹風と谷の水としなかりせば深山がくれの花を見ましや
Fuku kaze to tani no midu to si nakariseba miyama gakure no Fana wo mimasi ya The gusting wind and The valley’s waters Were there none, then Hidden in the mountains’ depths These blossoms – would any wish to see them?
Tsurayuki
Composed when he had gone to a temple in the mountains.
宿りして春の山辺にねたる夜は夢の内にも花ぞちりける
yadori site Faru no yamabe ni netaru yo Fa yume no uti ni mo Fana zo tirikeru Lodging here Upon a mountainside in springtime, Sleeping at night Even my dreams are full Of scattered blossom.
Tsurayuki
A poem from a poetry competition held by Her Majesty, the Empress, during the Kanpyō period.
春の野に若菜つまむと来し物をちりかふ花に道はまどひぬ
Faru no no ni wakana tumamu to koshi mono wo tirikaFu Fana ni miti Fa madoFinu To the meadows in springtime Thinking to pick fresh herbs Did I come, but Amongst the scattered blossom Have I lost my way.
Tsurayuki
Composed as a Spring poem.
三輪山をしかも隠すか春霞人に知られぬはなやさくらむ
miwayama wo sikamo kakusu ka Farugasumi Fito ni sirarenu Fana ya sakuramu Miwa Mountain Will you thus conceal, O, haze of spring? Might, unknown to all, Blossoms be blooming there?
Tsurayuki
A poem from the Poetry Contest held at the Palace of Former Emperor Uda.
さくら花ちりぬるかぜのなごりには水なき空に浪ぞたちける
sakurabana tirinuru kaze no nagori ni Fa midu naki sora ni nami zo tatikeru Cherry blossoms Scattered, the wind Leaves a keepsake In the waterless sky of A wave of broken petals.
Tsurayuki
Composed on returning from an ascent of Mount Hiei.
山たかみ見つつわが来しさくら花風は心にまかすべらなり
yama takami mitutu wa ga kosi sakurabana kaze Fa kokoro ni makasuberanari On the mountain’s heights, Did I ever see, when homeward bound, Cherry blossoms, where Now the wind will Do as it wants!
Tsurayuki
Composed when someone said there was nothing that scattered as swiftly as cherry blossom.
桜花とくちりぬとも思ほえず人の心ぞ風もふきあへぬ
sakurabana toku tirinu tomo omoFoezu Fito no kokoro zo kaze mo FukiaFenu Cherry blossoms Are swiftly scattered – I think not, for Folks’ hearts, too Are fluttered by the breeze.
Tsurayuki
Composed on the scattering of cherry blossoms.
ことならばさかずやはあらぬさくら花見る我さへにしづ心なし
koto naraba sakazu ya Fa aranu sakurabana miru ware saFe ni sidukokoro nasi If it could be that You never bloomed at all, O, cherry blossoms, Then at your sight I Would not be so disturbed…
Tsurayuki
Composed on seeing cherries blooming on a mountain.
春霞なに隠す覧さくら花ちる間をだにもみるべき物を
Farugasumi nani kakusuramu sakurabana chiru ma wo dani mo mirubeki mono wo Why should the spring haze So conceal The cherry blossoms, for Their brief instant of scattering at least Is something I would see…
Tsurayuki
Someone whom he had known for a long time came to call; after he had departed, he composed this, attached it to a branch of cherry blossom, and sent it to him.
ひとめ見しきみもや来るとさくら花けふは待ちみてちらばちら南
Fitome misi kimi mo ya kuru to sakurabana keFu Fa mati mite tiraba tiranamu But briefly did you glimpse them, so They wonder if you will return, These cherry blossoms; Today, I watch them and wait for you, so If they are to scatter, then let them!
Tsurayuki
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