Willow.
みちのべのくち木の柳春くればあはれむかしとしのばれぞする
michinobe no
kuchigi no yanagi
haru kureba
aware mukashi no
shinobare zo suru |
In a roadside field stands
A leafless willow tree-
Spring will come, and then
The wonders of long ago,
Will all return. |
The Suga Posthumous Grand Minister [Sugawara no Michizane]
菅原道真
Topic unknown.
みちのべにしみづながるゝやなぎかげしばしとてこそたちとまりつれ
michi nobe ni
shimizu nagaruru
yanagi kage
shibashi tote koso
tachitomaritsure |
Alongside the path
Fresh water flows, and
In the willow’s shade
Just for a little while
Would I take my ease… |
The Monk Saigyō
西行
On a folding screen in the Engi Period (901-923).
春さめのふりそめしよりあをやぎのいとのみどりぞ色まさりける
harusame no
furisomeshi yori
aoyagi no
ito no midori zo
iro masarikeru |
Spring rains
First fell, staining, since then,
The lush willows’
Threads with green-
The colour darkening. |
Ōshikōchi no Mitsune
凡河内躬恒
Topic unknown.
夏衣たつた川原の柳かげ涼みにきつつならすころかな
natu koromo
tatuta kaFara no
yanagi kage
suzumi ni kitutu
narasu koro kana |
Summer wear
Cut out-at Tatsuta riverbed
Willows’ shade
Is cool and so we come again-wearing
Familiar clothing now, do we not. |
Sone no Yoshitada
曾禰好忠
Topic unknown.
梅の香を櫻の花ににほはせて柳がえだにさかせてしがな
mume no ka wo
sakura no Fana ni
niFoFasete
yanagi ga eda ni
sakasetesi gana |
The scent of plum
From cherry blossoms
Wafting a perfumed glow,
On willow branches
I would set them to bloom. |
Nakahara no Munetoki (960-1011)
Topic unknown.
ともすれば風のよるにぞ青柳の糸はなかなか亂れそめける
tomosureba
kaze no yoru ni zo
awoyagi no
ito Fa nakanaka
midaresomekeru |
In some way
The wind has twined them;
Green willow
Branches in dreadful
Disorder. |
Anonymous
'Simply moving and elegant'