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Showing posts with the label Ogura Hyakunin Isshu

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 36 (Kiyohara no Fukayabu・natsu no yo wa)

May I find the moon somewhere in the clouds, before this short summer night fully breaks.*

Meigetsuki: second year of Bunryaku (1235), 27th of the Fifth Lunar Month

Although I never knew the ways of letters, Buddhist Novice (Renshō) has carefully insisted that I write the poem cartouches  for sliding doors of Saga Chūin. Even though they are awfully unsightly, written half-heartedly, I am sending them away. From the ancient times, a poem from every poet, from Emperor Tenji ( 1 )  to Ietaka ( 2 )  and Masatsune ( 3 ) .

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 54 (Mother of the Honorary Grand Minister・wasureji no)

My fear is that you will forget your promise to never forget me, so I would prefer to die now while I am still happy. 

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 9 (Ono no Komachi・hana no iro wa)

So the flower has wilted during the long spring rains, just as my beauty has faded during my forlorn years in this world.

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 55 (Fujiwara no Kintō・taki no oto wa)

No more can we hear the sounds of the waterfall, but its legacy continues to spread.

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 63 (Fujiwara no Michimasa・ima wa tada)

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

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 41 (Mibu no Tadami・koi su chō)

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

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 50 (Fujiwara no Yoshitaka・kimi ga tame oshikarazarishi...)

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

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 15 (Emperor Kōkō・kimi ga tame haru...)

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

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 51 (Fujiwara no Sanekata・kaku to dani)

When I must hide these burning feelings, I feel as though my body is on fire with Ibuki mugwort.   

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 4 (Yamabe no Akahito・tago no ura ni)

No matter where I stand on the shores of Tago, I can look up and see white snow, it keeps falling on the cap of Mount Fuji. 

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 22 (Fun'ya no Yasuhide・fuku karani)

Gust of wind carries leaves from the trees, giving the name of storm to the mountain wind.    

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 13 (Retired Emperor Yōzei・Tsukuba-ne no)

Feel the love deepen over time, like the stream widening into a river as it descends Mount Tsukuba.

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 1 (Emperor Tenji・aki no ta no)

The autumn paddy shacks have rough thatching and my sleeves are wet with dew*.

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 62 (Sei Shōnagon・yo wo komete)

Said night was young when the false rooster crowed, but the gates of Osaka remained shut.

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 42 (Kiyohara no Motosuke・chigiriki na)

Impassioned vows exchanged over many a tear shed to  last until the day waves crash over Mount Suenomatsu.

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 8 (Priest Kisen・wa ga io wa)

My own home is a retreat laying southeast of the capital ,  where I can hide from the troubles of this world.

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 89 (Imperial Princess Shokushi [Shikishi]・tama no wo yo)

Nothing can be worse than living a moment longer when I cannot bear growing any weaker than I already have.

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 57 (Murasaki Shikibu・meguriaite)

Long last we meet, only for you to leave hurriedly, so I could not recognise you, like the moon hidden behind the clouds. 1

Hyakunin Isshu: poem 97 (Fujiwara no Teika・konu hito wo)

As I wait for someone who will never come, my body burns like the seaweed drying on the shores of Matsuho.