One Thousand Summers

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

A mountain village grows lonesome every winter when people and grasses grow scarce.

Senior Grand Empress  Shōshi  is to enter religion, it seems, and to become an Imperial Lady with the same status as a Retired Emperor. People say that she will receive the commandments at an ordination platform erected at the Hōjōji, and that other nuns are eager to come and receive them with her. When my wife heard the news, she said,  “ That is when I will crop my white head. Don't try to stop me. ”  

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.