Tag Archives: water

SZS VIII: 522

Composed saying he would pass the barrier at Meeting Hill at night.

あふ坂の関には人もなかりけりいは井の水のもるにまかせて

aFusaka no
seki ni Fa Fito mo
nakarikeri
iFawi no midu no
moru ni makasete
At Meeting Hill’s
Barrier of folk
There is no sign—
To the water from the rocky spring’s
Guarded dripping is it entrusted…

Hōribe no Narinaka

A kuzushiji version of the poem's text.
Created with Soan.

SIS XI: 636

Sent when he saw the Tsutsumi Middle Counsellor Lady of the Bedchamber.[1]

あなこひしはつかに人をみづのあわのきえかへるともしらせてしかな

ana koFisi
Fatuka ni Fito wo
midu no awa no
kiekaFeru tomo
sirasetesi kana
O, how strong my love!
Faintly, a lady
Did I see, who as foam upon the water
Vanished once more, yet
I had to let her know!

The Ononomiya Palace Minister

A kuzushiji version of the poem's text.
Created with Soan.

[1] A reference to Fujiwara no Sōshi (Kuwako) 藤原桑子 (dates unknown), the daughter of Fujiwara no Kanesuke 藤原兼輔 (877-933), who was an Imperial Concubine to Emperor Daigo 醍醐 (885-930; r 897-930), and the mother of Imperial Prince Nori’akira 章明 (924-990).

Teiji-in uta’awase 38

Left

さくはなのちりつつうかぶみづのおもにいかでうき草ねざしそめけむ

saku hana no
chiritsutsu ukabu
mizu no omo ni
ikade ukikusa
nezashi somekemu
Blossom blooming and
Ever scattering, and floating
Upon the surface of the water,
So why might the waterweed
Begin to put down roots?

76

Right

まつひとはつねならなくにほととぎすおもひのほかになかばうからむ

matsu hito wa
tsune naranaku ni
hototogisu
omoi no hoka ni
nakaba ukaramu
The one awaiting you is
Ever changing,
O, cuckoo, but
If, my longing you should not meet
With your song, how I will hate you!

77

Teiji-in uta’awase 26

Love

Five poems, stopping at five

Left (Win)

なみだがはいかなるみづかながるらんなどわがこひをけすひとのなき

namidagawa
ika naru mizu ka
nagaruran
nado wa ga koi o
kesu hito no naki
In the River of Tears
What sort of water is it
That does flow?
Why is it that my love’s burn
To extinguish is there no one?

Okikaze
51

Right

みをもかへおもふものからこひといへばもゆるなかにもいるこころかな

mi o mo kae
omou mono kara
koi to ieba
moyuru naka ni
iru kokoro kana
Staking my life is
Often in my thoughts, but
Within the fires of love,
Burning,
Does my heart lie!

Okikaze
52

Teiji-in uta’awase 25

Left

さよふけてなどかなくらむほととぎすたびねのやどをかすひとやなき

sayo fukete
nado ka nakuramu
hototogisu
tabine no yado o
kasu hito ya naki
Brief night breaks, so
Why does he cry so?
The cuckoo
A lodging on his journey
Has no one to lend him!

49

Right (Win)

なつのいけによるべさだめぬうきくさのみづよりほかにゆくかたもなし

natsu no ike ni
yorube sadamenu
ukikusa no
mizu yori hoka ni
yuku kata mo nashi
Upon the pond in summer
No destination has
The waterweed, so
Other than the water
It has no place to go…

Okikaze
50