When snow was falling between the mountains.
あしひきの山ゐに降れる白雪はすれる衣の心地こそすれ
| asiFiki no yamawi ni Fureru sirayuki Fa sureru koromo no kokoti koso sure |
Leg-wearying Between the indigo mountains fall White snowflakes: Robes dyed that hue Spark such feelings. |
Ise
伊勢
Her reply:
涙さへ時雨にそひてふるさとは紅葉の色も濃さまさりけり
| namida saFe sigure ni soFite Furusato Fa momidi no iro mo kosa masarikeri | Ever my tears Fall with the showers; At my ancient home, The lustre of the scarlet leaves Is deepest of all. |
Ise
伊勢
Going to her house when Ise was living away from home, he attached a poem to some autumn leaves and sent it to her.
人住まず荒れたるやどを來て見れば今ぞ木の葉は錦織りける
| Fito sumazu aretaru yado wo kite mireba ima zo ko no Fa Fa nisiki worikeru | She lives no more At this overgrown house I have come to gaze upon, but Now, the leaves upon the trees Weave a fine brocade. |
The Biwa Minister of the Right, [Fujiwara no Nakahira (875-945)]
While going somewhere, sunk in thought, she saw a burning field by the road and composed this:
冬がれののべとわが身を思ひせばもえても春をまたまし物を
| Fuyugare no nobe to wa ga mi wo omoFiseba moetemo Faru wo matamasi mono wo |
Withered in winter Are the fields, and I- Were I the same, then Though I burn, the spring Might be something to await. |
Ise
伊勢
A poem composed for the four seasons screen behind the guest of honour when the Principal Handmaid celebrated the fortieth birthday of the Fujiwara Major Captain of the Right (Winter):
白雪のふりしく時はみよしのの山した風に花ぞちりける
| sira yuki no Furisiku toki Fa miyosino no yamasitakaze ni Fana zo tirikeru |
White snowflakes Falling constantly-at such a time In fair Yoshino Amid the wild winds round the mountain’s base Scatter blossoms. |
Tsurayuki
貫之
When His Majesty commanded him to submit a poem, he composed this and offered it.
ゆく年のをしくもあるかなますかがみ見るかげさへにくれぬと思へば
| yuku tosi no wosiku mo aru ka na masukagami miru kage saFe ni kurenu to omoFeba |
The parting year Fills me with regret For in a clear glass All I see are signs Of my own passing. |
Ki no Tsurayuki
紀貫之
Composed at the end of the year.
昨日といひけふとくらしてあすかがは流れてはやき月日なりけり
| kinoFu to iFi keFu to kurasite asukagaFa nagarete Fayaki tukiFi narikeri |
‘Twas yesterday,’ I said, And then, ‘Today’; Tomorrow, as the Asuka River’s Swift current The time has come upon me. |
Harumichi no Tsuraki
A poem from a poetry contest held by Her Majesty, the Empress, in the Kanpyō period.
雪ふりて年のくれぬる時こそつひにもみぢぬ松も見えけれ
| yuki Furite tosi no kurenuru toki ni koso tsuFi ni momidinu matu mo miekere | Snow falls and The year reaches its evening, It is at this time that Truly, evergreen The pine tree seems. |
Anonymous
Composed at the end of the year.
あらたまの年のをはりになるごとに雪もわが身もふりまさりつつ
| aratama no tosi no woFari ni naru goto ni yuki mo wa ga mi mo Furimasaritutu |
When every Year end Comes The snow on me Piles higher. |
Ariwara no Motokata
有原元方