One Thousand Summers

After I determined to abandon my love, my only regret is that I have no way to tell you in person.

Composed when the emperor heard that he was secretly visiting a lady who had come back from serving as the High Priestess of Ise, and posted guards, so he became unable to visit even in secret

As my love first came to realisation, word had already spread.

So his thoughts returned always to the same family. As he sank deeper in memories of Uji, of his strange, cruel ties with the Uji family, drake flies, than which no creatures are more fragile and insubstantial, were flitting back and forth in the evening light.    ‘I see the drake fly, take it up in my hand. Ah, here it is, I say − and it is gone.’   And he added softly, as always: ‘Here, and perhaps not here at all.’

For you I would have given up my life. Now together, I guard it dear.

For you, I head out to the fields to pick spring greens while snow falls upon my sleeves.

A poem from  a banquet of provincial and district governors, held in spring of the third year, on the first day of the first month, at provincial offices in Inaba province.