|
Emperor Tenchi Coarse the rush-mat roof Sheltering the harvest-hut Of the autumn rice-field; And my sleeves are growing wet With the moisture dripping through. |
|
Empress Jito Spring, it seems, has passed, And the summer come again; For the silk-white robes, So 'tis said, are spread to dry On the "Mount of Heaven's Perfume." |
|
Kakinomoto no Hitomaro Oh, the foot-drawn trail Of the mountain-pheasant's tail Drooped like down-curved branch! Through this long, long-dragging night Must I keep my couch alone? |
|
Yamabe no Akahito When to Tago's coast I the way have gone, and see Perfect whiteness laid On Mount Fuji's lofty peak By the drift of falling snow. |
|
Sarumaru In the mountain depths, Treading through the crimson leaves, Cries the wandering stag. When I hear the lonely cry, Sad -- how sad -- the autumn is! |
|
Otomo no Yakamochi If the "Magpie Bridge" -- Bridge by flight of magpies spanned -- White with frost I see -- With a deep-laid frost made white -- Late, I know, has grown the night. |
|
Abe no Nakamaro When I look abroad O'er the wide-stretched "Plain of Heaven," Is the moon the same That on Mount Mikasa rose, In the land of Kasuga? |
|
The Monk Kisen Lowly hut is mine South-east from the capital. Thus I choose to dwell. And the world in which I live Men have named a "Mount of Gloom." |
|
Ono no Komachi Color of the flower Has already passed away While on trivial things Vainly I have set my gaze, In my journey through the world. |
|
Semimaru Truly, this is where Travelers who go or come Over parting ways -- Friends or strangers -- all must meet; 'Tis the gate of "Meeting Hill." |
|
Ono no Takamura O'er the wide, wide sea, Towards its many distant isles, Rowing I set forth. This, to all the world proclaim, O you boats of fisher-folk! |
|
The Monk Henjo O you winds of heaven! In the paths among the clouds Blow, and close the ways, That we may these virgin forms Yet a little while detain. |
|
Emperor Yozei From Tsukuba's peak, Falling waters have become Mina's still, full flow: So my love has grown to be, Like the river's quiet deeps. |
|
Minamoto no Toru Michinoku print Of shinobu's tangled leaves! For whose sake have I, Like confused, begun to be? Only yours! I cannot change! |
|
Emperor Koko It is for your sake That I seek the fields in spring, Gathering green herbs, While my garment's hanging sleeves Are with falling snow beflecked. |
|
Ariwara no Yukihira Though we parted be, If on Mount Inaba's peak I should hear the sound Of the pine trees growing there, Back at once I'll make my way. |
|
Ariwara no Narihira I have never heard That, when the gods held their sway In the ancient days, Water was ever crimson As it is in Tatta's stream |
|
Fujiwara no Toshiyuki See, the gathered waves On the shore of Sumi's bay! In the gathered night, When in dreams I go to you, I must shun the eyes of men. |
|
Lady Ise Even for a space Short as joint of tiny reed From Naniwa's marsh, We must never meet again In this life? This, do you ask? |
|
Prince Motoyoshi Now, in dire distress, It is all the same to me! So, then, let us meet Even though it costs my life In the Bay of Naniwa. |
|
The Monk Sosei Just because she said, "In a moment I will come," I've awaited her Until the moon of daybreak, In the long month, has appeared. |
|
Bun'ya no Yasuhide Since 'tis by its breath Autumn's leaves of grass and trees Riven are and waste, Men may to the mountain wind Fitly give the name, "The Wild." |
|
Oe no Chisato Gaze I at the moon, Myriad things arise in thought, And my thoughts are sad; Yet, 'tis not for me alone, That the autumn time has come. |
|
Sugawara no Michizane At the present time, Since no offering I could bring, See Mount Tamuke! Here are brocades of red leaves, At the pleasure of the god. |
|
Fujiwara no Sadakata If your name be true, Trailing vine of "Meeting Hill," Is there not some way Whereby, without ken of men, I can draw you to my side? |
|
Fujiwara no Tadahira If the maple leaves On the ridge of Ogura Have the gift of mind, They will longingly await One more august pilgrimage. |
|
Fujiwara no Kanesuke Over Mika's plain, Gushing forth and flowing free, Is Izumi's stream. I know not if we have met: Why, then, do I long for her? |
|
Minamoto no Muneyuki Winter loneliness In a mountain hamlet grows Only deeper, when Guests are gone, and leaves and grass Withered are -- so runs my thought. |
|
Oshikochi no Mitsune If it were my wish White chrysanthemum to cull: Puzzled by the frost Of the early autumn time I by chance might pluck the flower. |
|
Mibu no Tadamine Like the morning moon, Cold, unpitying was my love. Since that parting hour, Nothing I dislike so much As the breaking light of day. |
|
Sakanoue no Korenori At the break of day, Just as though the morning moon Lightened the dim scene, Yoshino's fair hamlet lay In a haze of falling snow. |
|
Harumichi no Tsuraki In a mountain stream, Builded by the busy wind, Is a wattled-barrier drawn. Yet 'tis only maple leaves Powerless to flow away. |
|
Ki no Tomonori In the cheerful light Of the ever-shining sun, In the days of spring, Why, with ceaseless, restless haste Falls the cherry's new-blown bloom? |
|
Fujiwara no Okikaze Whom then are there now, In my age (so far advanced) I can hold as friends? Even Takasago's pines Are not friends of former days. |
|
Ki no Tsurayuki No! no! As for man, How his heart is none can tell, But the plum's sweet flower In my birthplace, as of yore, Still emits the same perfume. |
|
Kiyohara no Fukayabu In the summer night, The evening still seems present, But the dawn has come. In what region of the clouds Has the wandering moon found place? |
|
Bun'ya no Asayasu In the autumn fields, When the heedless wind blows by O'er the pure-white dew, How the myriad unstrung gems Everywhere are scattered round! |
|
Lady Ukon Though forgotten now, For myself I do not care: He, by oath, was pledged, And his life, who is forsworn, That is indeed pitiful. |
|
Minamoto no Hitoshi Bamboo-growing plain, With a small-field bearing reeds! Though I bear my lot, Why is it too much to bear? Why do I still love her so? |
|
Taira no Kanemori Though I would conceal, In my face it yet appears -- My fond, secret love. So much that he asks of me, "Does not something trouble you?" |
|
Mibu no Tadami Though, indeed, I love, Yet, the rumor of my love Had gone far and wide, When no man before could know That I had begun to love. |
|
Kiyohara no Motosuke Have we not been pledged By the wringing of our sleeves -- Each for each in turn -- That o'er Sue's Mount of Pines Ocean waves shall never pass? |
|
Fujiwara no Atsutada Having met my love, Afterwards my passion was, When I measured it With the feeling of the past, As if, then, I had not loved. |
|
Fujiwara no Asatada If a trysting time There should never be at all, I should not complain For myself (oft left forlorn) Or of her (in heartless mood). |
|
Fujiwara no Koremasa Sure that there is none Who will speak a pitying word, I shall pass away. And my death shall only be My own folly's fitting end. |
|
Sone no Yoshitada Like a mariner Sailing over Yura's strait With his rudder gone: Whither, o'er the deep of love, Lies the goal, I do not know. |
|
The Monk Egyo To the humble cot, Overgrown with thick-leaved vines In its loneliness, Comes the dreary autumn time: And not even man is there. |
|
Minamoto no Shigeyuki Like a driven wave, Dashed by fierce winds on a rock, So it is, alas! Crushed and all alone am I, Thinking over what has been. |
|
Onakatomi no Yoshinobu Like the warder's fires At the Imperial gateway kept, Burning through the night, Through the day in ashes dulled, Is the love aglow in me. |
|
Fujiwara no Yoshitaka For your precious sake, Once my eager life itself Was not dear to me. But 'tis now my heart's desire It may long, long years endure. |
|
Fujiwara no Sanekata That, 'tis as it is, How can I make known to her? So, she may n'er know That the love I feel for her Like Ibuki's moxa burns. |
|
Fujiwara no Michinobu Though I know full well That the night will come again After day has dawned, Yet, in truth, I hate the sight Of the morning's coming light. |
|
The Mother of Michitsuna Sighing all alone, Through the long watch of the night, Till the break of day: Can you realize at all What a tedious thing it is? |
|
The Mother of Gido Sanshi If "not to forget" Will for him in future years Be too difficult, It were well this very day That my life (ah me!) should close. |
|
Fujiwara no Kinto Though the waterfall In its flow ceased long ago, And its sound is stilled, Yet, in name it ever flows, And in fame may yet be heard. |
|
Lady Izumi Shikibu Soon I cease to be; One fond memory I would keep When beyond this world. Is there, then, no way for me Just once more to meet with you? |
|
Lady Murasaki Shikibu Meeting in the way: While I cannot clearly know If 'tis friend or not, See, the midnight moon (alas!) In a cloud has disappeared. |
|
Daini no Sanmi, Lady Kataiko If Mount Arima Sends his rustling winds across Ina's bamboo-plains, Well! in truth, tis as you say; Yet how can I e'er forget? |
|
Lady Akazome Emon Better to have slept Care-free, than to keep vain watch Through the passing night, Till I saw the lonely moon Traverse her descending path. |
|
Lady Koshikibu As, by Oe's mount And o'er Iku's plain, the way Is so very far, I have not yet even seen Ama-no-hashidate. |
|
Lady Ise no Osuke Eight-fold cherry flowers That at Nara -- ancient seat Of our state -- have bloomed, In our nine-fold palace court Shed their sweet perfume today |
|
Lady Sei Shonagon Though in middle night, By the feigned crow of the cock, Some may be deceived, Yet, at Osaka's gate This can never be achieved. |
|
Fujiwara no Michimasa Is there now no way But through others' lips, to say These so fateful words, That, henceforth, my love for you I must banish from my thoughts? |
|
Fujiwara no Sadayori At early daybreak, When the mists from Uji's stream Slowly lift and clear, The net-stakes upon the shoals, Near and far away, appear! |
|
Lady Sagami Even when my sleeves, Through my hate and misery, Never once are dry -- For such love my name decays -- How deplorable my lot! |
|
Abbot Gyoson Let us, each for each Pitying, hold tender thought, Mountain cherry flower! Other than you, lonely flower, There is none I know as friend. |
|
Lady Suo If, but through the dreams Of a spring's short night, I'd rest Pillowed on this arm, And my name were blameless stained, Hard, indeed, would be my fate. |
|
Emperor Sanjo If, against my wish, In the world of sorrows still, I for long should live, How then I would pine (alas!) For this moon of middle-night. |
|
The Monk Noin By the wind storm's blast, From Mimuro's mountain slopes Maples leaves are torn, And as rich brocades, are wrought On blue Tatta's quiet stream. |
|
The Monk Ryosen In my loneliness From my humble home gone forth, When I looked around, Everywhere it was the same: One lone, darkening autumn eve. |
|
Minamoto no Tsunenobu When the evening comes, From the rice leaves at my gate Gentle knocks are heard; And, into my round rush-hut, Autumn's roaming breeze makes way. |
|
Lady Kii Well I know the fame Of the fickle waves that beat On Takashi's strand! Should I e'er go near that shore I should only wet my sleeves. |
|
Oe no Masafusa On that distant mount, O'er the slope below the peak, Cherries are in flower. May the mists of hither hills Not arise to veil the scene. |
|
Minamoto no Toshiyori I did not make prayer, At the shrine of mercy's god, That the unkind one Should become as pitiless As the storms of Hase's hills. |
|
Fujiwara no Mototoshi Though your promise was "Like the dew on moxa plant" And to me was life, Yet (alas!) the year has passed Even into autumn time. |
|
Fujiwara no Tadamichi O'er the wide sea plain, As I row and look around, It appears to me That the white waves, far away, Are the ever shining sky. |
|
Emperor Sutoku Though a swift stream be By a rock met and restrained In impetuous flow, Yet, divided, it speeds on, And at last unites again. |
|
Minamoto no Kanemasa Guard of Suma's Gate, From your sleep, how many nights Have you waked at cries Of the plaintive sanderlings, Migrant from Awaji's isle? |
|
Fujiwara no Akisuke See, how clear and bright Is the moonlight finding ways 'Mong the riven clouds That, with drifting autumn-wind, Gracefully float o'er the sky! |
|
Lady Horikawa Is it forever That he wills our love to last? Oh, I do not know! And this morn my anxious thoughts, Like my black hair, are confused. |
|
Fujiwara no Sanesada When I turned my look Toward the place whence I had heard Hototogisu, The only thing I found Was the moon of early dawn. |
|
The Monk Doin Though in deep distress Through the cruel blow, my life Still is left to me, But my tears I cannot keep; They cannot my grief endure. |
|
Fujiwara no Toshinari Throughout all the world, Way of flight I find nowhere! I had thought to hide In the mountains' farthest depths; Even there the stag's cry sounds. |
|
Fujiwara no Kiyosuke If I long should live Then perhaps the present days May be dear to me, Just as past time fraught with grief Now comes fondly back in thought. |
|
The Monk Shun'e Now, as through the night Longingly I pass the hours, And the day's dawn lags, So my bedroom's crannied doors Heartless are, indeed, to me. |
|
The Monk Saigyo Is it then the moon That has made me sad, as though It had bade me grieve? Lifting up my troubled face -- Oh, the tears, the mournful tears! |
|
The Monk Jakuren Lo, an autumn eve! See the deep vale's mists arise Mong the fir-tree's leaves That still hold the dripping wet Of the chill day's sudden showers. |
|
Attendant to Empress Koka For but one night's sake, Short as is a node of reed Grown in Naniwa bay, Must I, henceforth, long for him With my whole heart, till life's close? |
|
Princess Shokushi Life! You string of gems! If you are to end, break now. For, if yet I live, All I do to hide my love May at last grow weak and fail. |
|
Attendant to Empress Inpu Let me show him these! Even fisherwomen's sleeves On Ojima's shores, Though wet through and wet again, Do not change their dyer's hues. |
|
Fujiwara no Yoshitsune On a chilling mat, Drawing close my folded quilt, I must sleep alone, While all through the frosty night Sounds a cricket's forlorn chirp. |
|
Lady Sanuki Like a rock at sea, Even at ebb-tide hidden, Is my tear-drenched sleeve -- Never for a moment dry, And unknown in human ken. |
|
Minamoto no Sanetomo Would that this, our world, Might be ever as it is! What a lovely scene! See that fisherwoman's boat, Rope-drawn, rowed along the beach. |
|
Fujiwara no Masatsune From Mount Yoshino Blows a chill, autumnal wind In the deepening night. Cold the ancient hamlet is; Sounds of beating cloth I hear. |
|
Abbot Jien Though I am not fit, I have dared to shield the folk Of this woeful world With my black-dyed sacred sleeve -- I, who live on Mount Hiei. |
|
Fujiwara no Kintsune Not the snow of flowers, That the hurrying wild-wind drags Round the garden court, Is it that here, withering, falls: That in truth is I, myself. |
|
Fujiwara no Sadaie, Fujiwara no Teika Like the salt sea-weed, Burning in the evening calm. On Matsuo's shore, All my being is aglow, Waiting one who does not come. |
|
Fujiwara no Ietaka To Nara's brook comes Evening, and the rustling winds Stir the oak-trees' leaves. Not a sign of summer left But the sacred bathing there. |
|
Emperor Gotoba For some men I grieve; Some men are hateful to me; And this wretched world To me, weighted down with care, Is a place of misery. |
|
Emperor Juntoku O Imperial House! When I think of former days, How I long for you! More than even clinging vines Hanging 'neath your ancient eaves. |