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Through our nights the promises you made, if you have not forgotten them – then of your tears of yearning the hue I’m curious to know.

– Fujiwara no Teishi, Empress Consort of Retired Emperor Ichijō

よもすがらちぎりしことをわすれずはこひんなみだのいろぞゆかしき Yo mo sugara chigirishi koto o wasurezu wa koin namida no iro zo yukashiki

Poem 536 in Goshūishū (Later Collection of Gleanings; 1086), where it opens book X, dedicated to laments.

Commentary

The poem is recorded in Goshūishū, as well as in Eiga monogatari (Tale of Flowering Fortunes; around 1030) as one of Teishi's death poems found by her deathbed. Mention of hue in relation to tears implies tears of blood.

Now that I am no longer in this world, do you cry for me? Those tears, are those the tears of blood? I wish to know, if you do yearn for me.

#Fujiwara no Teishi #Goshūishū #poetry #japanese poetry #waka poetry #poetry in translation #Laments #death poem

The God guarding the leaves of this Oak Tree, though he is no longer here – would the branches allow you to grow familiar to this house?

– Ochiba no Miya

in Murasaki Shikibu's Genji monogatari (The Tale of Genji), "Kashiwagi" (The Oak Tree)

かしは木に葉守の神はまさずとも人ならすべき宿のこずゑか Kashiwagi ni hamori no kami wa masazu to mo hito narasubeki yado no kozue ka

#The Tale of Genji #Genji monogatari #Murasaki Shikibu #japanese poetry #waka poetry #poetry in translation #poetry

I look and only “Is this my life?” – “My night?” – I come to think. As in the West sinks Moon by the mountain’s edge.

– Akazome Emon

みればただ我が世かとこそおもほゆれにしへかたぶく山のはの月 Mireba tada wa ga yo ka to koso omooyure nishi e katabuku yama no ha no tsuki

From Akazome Emon shū (Personal Collection of Akazome Emon), poem 392.

#japanese poetry #waka poetry #poetry in translation #poetry #Akazome Emon #Akazome Emon shū

When in this world he was, nights of travel, even they as travel did not feel. Alone, in dew drenched is my pillow made of grass.

– Akazome Emon

ありしよのたびはたびともあらざりきひとりつゆけき草まくらかな Arishi yo no tabi wa tabi to mo arazariki hitori tsuyukeki kusamakura kana

From Akazome Emon shū (Personal Collection of Akazome Emon), poem 294.

#japanese poetry #poetry in translation #waka poetry #poetry #Akazome Emon #Akazome Emon shū

Of the one in my eyes, smoke is turning into clouds and I gaze – as even the evening sky is dear...

– Genji

in Murasaki Shikibu's Genji monogatari (The Tale of Genji), “Yūgao” (Evening Faces)

見し人の煙を雲とながむれば夕べの空もむつましきかな Mishi hito no keburi o kumo to nagamureba yūbe no sora mo mutsumashiki kana

#Genji monogatari #The Tale of Genji #Murasaki Shikibu #poetry #Japanese poetry #waka poetry #poetry in translation

So summer insects turn themselves to nothing – a single thought is a fire, in which I burn.

– anonymous

夏虫の身をいたづらになすことも一つ思ひによりてなりけり Natsumushi no mi o itazura ni nasu koto mo hitotsu omoi ni yorite narikeri

Poem 544 in Kokinshū (Collection of Poetry Ancient and Modern; 905), where it is found in Book XI, first book of love poetry. Translation is my own.

#japanese poetry #waka poetry #poetry in translation #poetry #love poetry #Kokinshu

In Naniwa Inlet, in seaweed buried precious jewels emerge – if only I may love you so.

– Minamoto no Toshiyori (Shunrai)

なにはえのもにうづもるるたまがしはあらはれてだに人をこひばや Naniwa e no mo ni uzumoruru tamagashiwa arawarete dani hito o koibaya

Poem 641 in Senzaishū (Collection of a Thousand Years; 1188), where it is included in Book XI, the first of five books dedicated to love poetry. Translation is my own.

#Minamoto no Toshiyori #Minamoto no Shunrai #Senzaishu #poetry #japanese poetry #waka poetry #poetry in translation

End of tenth century. Once, near the end of second month, as light snow mingled with strong wind on a dark day, Fujiwara no Kintō sent Sei Shōnagon a message, which read:

…a hint of spring there is, it feels.

すこしはるある心ちこそすれ Sukoshi haru aru kokochi koso sure

Sei Shōnagon responded with:

Skies cold and in mistaken for the flowers falling snow…

空寒み花にまがへてちる雪に Sora samumi hana ni magaete chiru yuki ni

Thus completing the poem:

Skies cold and in mistaken for the flowers falling snow a hint of spring there is, it feels.

From Sei Shōnagon’s Makura no sōshi (The Pillow Book; 1001?), section 102: “At the end of second month, strong winds blew...”. Translation of the poem is my own, as are descriptions of the situation, which are loosely based on the aforementioned episode in Makura no sōshi.

#Sei Shonagon #Japanese poetry #poetry #poetry in translation #spring poetry #Fujiwara no Kintō

What shall I do then? By eight islands of Muro no Yashima I wish to dwell. For the smoke of my love with the sky to merge.

– Fujiwara no Shunzei

いかにせむむろのやしまにやどもがなこひのけぶりをそらにまがへむ Ikani semu Muro no yashima ni yado mogana koi no keburi o sora ni magaemu

Poem 703 in Senzaishū (Collection of a Thousand Years; 1188), where it is included in Book XI, the first of five books dedicated to love poetry. Translation is my own.

#poetry #japanese poetry #waka poetry #Senzaishu #Fujiwara no Shunzei #love poetry #poetry in translation

My thoughts but empty dreams caught in the skies – even if you are to break, don’t break, jeweled thread of harsh life.

– Fujiwara no Teika

おもふことむなしき夢の半天にたゆともたゆなつらき玉のを Omou koto munashiki yume no nakazora ni tayu to mo tayu na tsuraki tama no o

Poem 188 in Teika-kyō hyakuban jikaawase (One-Hundred-Round Contest of Lord Teika’s Own Poems; 1216). Round 94, right (win). Translation is my own.

#poetry #japanese poetry #waka poetry #Fujiwara no Teika #poetry in translation #poetry of personal feelings (jukkai)

In a Shelter of Reeds, in a bed of sleep transient, like the space between nodes, as I lie shortly lightens night after summer’s night.

– Fujiwara no Teika

葦の屋のかりねの床のふしのまにみじかく明くる夏の夜な夜な Ashi no ya no karine no toko no fushi no ma ni mijikaku akuru natsu no yo na yo na

Poem 1925 in Teika's personal collection Shūi gusō (Gleanings from Meager Grasses). Translation and commentary is my own.

Commentary

“Space between nodes” (fushi no ma) refers to space between nodes of a reed (ashi), while also layering the meaning of "moment/time of lying down". Ashi no ya (Shelter of Reeds) is also a poetic place name (utamakura) of Settsu province.

#poetry #japanese poetry #waka poetry #poetry in translation #Fujiwara no Teika #summer poetry

Did you come to me? Was it I who went to you? I cannot tell. Was it a dream? Was it reality? Was I asleep? Was I awake?

– anonymous

君やこし我や行きけむおもほえず夢かうつつかねてかさめてか Kimi ya koshi ware ya yukikemu omooezu yume ka utsutsu ka nete ka samete ka

Poem 645, included in Book XIII (third book of love poems) of Kokinshū (Collection of Poetry Ancient and Modern; 905). The poem famously features in episode 69 of Ise monogatari (The Tales of Ise; ca. 10th century)

#japanese poetry #waka poetry #poetry in translation #poetry #love poetry #Kokinshu

When evening falls, in fields front of my gate the leaves of rice plants sound their rustles, as it comes to visit – in reed-thatched hut autumn wind blows.

– Minamoto no Tsunenobu

夕されば門田の稲葉おとづれてあしのまろ屋に秋風ぞふく Yūsareba kadota no inaba otozurete ashi no maroya ni akikaze zo fuku

Poem 173 from Kin’yōshū (Collection of Golden Leaves; 1127), where it is found in Book III, dedicated to verses on autumn. The poem is best known for its inclusion in the Hyakunin isshu, where it is found as poem number 71. Translation and commentary is my own.

Commentary

The beauty of Tsunenobu’s poem lies in both its imagery and construction. As the poem arrives at its third phrase of otozurete, its original meaning of “to make a sound” completes the image of rustling plants. At the same time, it invites the idea of a visitor, for otozurete also means “to visit”. And yet, as the final line unfolds, we are left alone, as the only visitor is the autumn wind.

#japanese poetry #waka poetry #poetry in translation #Minamoto no Tsunenobu #Autumn poetry #poetry

Together beneath the moss it has not decayed, not buried is the name of yours, at which I look with sorrow overcome.

– Izumi Shikibu

もろともに苔の下に朽ちもせで埋まれぬ名を見るぞ悲しき Morotomo ni koke no shita ni wa kuchi mo sede uzumarenu na o miru zo kanashiki

Poem 620 from Kin’yōshū (Collection of Golden Leaves; 1127), where it is included in Book X, that is, second book of poetry on miscellaneous topics. Translation is my own.

#japanese poetry #waka poetry #poetry in translation #Izumi Shikibu #Mourning poetry #poetry

This world among their joints – of sorrows numerous like nodes. Of low bamboo the plains of Shino – for a journey I am on, my dear appears in dreams.

– Fujiwara no Shunzei

世の中は憂きふししげし篠原や旅にしあれば妹夢に見ゆ Yo no naka wa uki fushi shigeshi Shinohara ya tabi ni shi areba imo yume ni miyu

Poem 976 from Shinkokinshū (New Collection of Poetry Ancient and Modern; 1205), where it is included in Book X, dedicated to poetry on Travel. Translation and the following commentary is my own.

Commentary

Imagery of the poem is bound by word associations between joints (yo) and nodes (fushi) of low bamboo (shino). Each of those words carries double meaning: yo is part of a phrase yo no naka andalso means “world,” fushi means “things,” while Shino as part of Shinohara may be read as a placename. By convention, traveler with no accomodations for the night understood to be spending it among the bamboo grasses.

#japanese poetry #waka poetry #poetry in translation #Fujiwara no Shunzei #Travel poetry #Japanese literature #poetry

In secretly smoldering flames of my thoughts I fade; the smoke from my pyre – clouds without trace in an ending so mournful of my love.

– Shunzei’s Daughter

下もえに思ひ消えなむ煙だに跡なき雲のはてぞかなしき Shitamoe ni omoi kienamu keburi dani ato naki kumo no hate zo kanashiki

Poem 1081 from the second book of love poetry in Shinkokinshū (New Collection of Poetry Ancient and Modern; 1205). Translation is mine. Read with words in italics and without them.

#japanese poetry #waka poetry #poetry in translation #Japanese literature #Shunzei's Daughter #Shunzei-kyō no musume #Love poetry #poetry

The rain does not stop by the eaves　water jewels of numbers unknown as my longing for you grows still deeper.

– Taira no Kanemori

雨やまぬ軒の玉水かずしらず恋しき事のまさるころかな Ame yamanu noki no tamamizu kazu shirazu koishiki koto no masaru koro kana

Poem 578, from Book I of Love poetry in Gosenshū (Later Collection of Japanese Poetry; compiled in 950s). Translation is my own.

#japanese poetry #waka poetry #Taira no Kanemori #poetry in translation #japanese literature #love poetry #poetry

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