Tessera

On seeing a goose jointed for cooking atop a kitchen counter. あはれなり雲ゐのよそに行くかりもかかるすがたになりぬとおもへば O, how sad it is, that Even, into the distant clouds Once going, a goose In such a state Has ended, I feel… Kinkai wakashū 705

On the conception of an ancient estate. いにしへをしのぶとなしにいその神ふりにし里に我はきにけり Bygone days I do not recall, but To Isonokami, To an estate grown old, Have I come! Kinkai wakashū 704

For a painting of foot-travellers crossing a bridge. かち人のわたればゆるぐかつしかのままのつぎはし朽ちやしぬらん On foot travellers Cross and shake, In Katsushika, Mama’s clapper bridge: I wonder, has it rotted all away? Kinkai wakashū 703

When returning from a pilgrimage to the twin shrines, there was a river called the Maekawa running before my beachside lodging. Rain had been falling, so the waters were extremely high—I composed this when we crossed the river at sunset.

Composed watching the sun set behind the mountains’ edge. くれなゐの千しほのまふり山のはに日のいる時の空にぞ有りける With scarlet Dyed a thousand times fluttering When behind the mountains’ edge The sun does set So does the sky appear. Kinkai wakashū 701

On seeing the salt fires of fisherfolk, when I had gone out to the beach. いつもかくさびしきものかあしのやに焼きすさびたるあまのもしほ火 Are they always such Lonely things? Above the roofs of reeds Thin trails of smoke From fishers’ seaweed salt fires… Kinkai wakashū 700

いつもかくさびしきものかつの国のあし屋の里の秋の夕暮 Are they always such Lonely things? In the land of Tsu, Reed-roofed villages On an autumn evening… Ietaka Rōnyaku gojusshu uta’awase 497

Composed on seeing smoke rising from the kilns of the common folk. みちのくにここにやいづくしほがまの浦とはなしに煙たつみゆ Where in Michinoku Might this be? For Shiogama Bay ‘tis not but I see the smoke arising. Kinkai wakashū 699

On receiving tribute and seeing the richness of his land. たかきやにのぼりて見ればけぶりたつたみのかまどはにぎはひにけり To my palace heights I climb and when I gaze across Smoke rises— The homes of my people Are rich, indeed. Emperor Nintoku Shinkokinshū VII: 707

A poem composed on seeing the lake at Hakone when I had made a pilgrimage to the twin shrines the following year. 玉くしげはこねのみ海けけれあれやふたくにかけてなかにたゆたふ A jewelled comb, The fair waters of Hakone, Must have a heart, indeed, to Lie between two provinces, There adrift… Kinkai wakashū 698

A song from Kai. かひがねをさやにも見しがけけれなくよこほりふせるさやの中山 The peaks of Kai Clearly I would behold, but Heartless, You lie in my way, O, Saya-no-Nakayama! Anonymous Kokinshū XX: 1097

Composed on seeing waves breaking on a rocky coast. 大海の磯もとどろによする浪われてくだけてさけてちるかも The ocean’s Rocky shore echoes with Breaking waves, as They smash and shatter, Split and scatter! Kinkai wakashū 697

Composed when I saw a single pine tree on the rocky shore when I had gone on a pilgrimage. あづさ弓いそべにたてるひとつ松あなつれづれげ友なしにして A catalpa bow, Standing on the stoney shore, A single pine— How lonely it seems, Without any friend at all… Kinkai wakashū 696

Composed on seeing an aged pine on the rocky shore while on the road to a place called Misaki. いその松いくひささにか成りぬらんいたく木高き風のおとかな The pine tree on the rocky shore Has for how many eternities Endured? The tree, so very high, as is The sound of the wind! Kinkai wakashū 695

For a painting on a folding screen of a woman with a torn robe passing by a spot on the plains with three aged pines. おのづから我をたづぬる人もあらば野中の松よみきとかたるな If, from time to time, Enquiring after me A man should come, O, pines upon the plains, Say not that you’ve seen me! Kinkai wakashū 694

Topic unknown. それをだに思ふ事とてわがやどを見きとないひそ人のきかくに Simply on those times Do my thoughts dwell, so That my house You’ve seen, say not! Lest others hear of it… Anonymous Kokinshū XV: 811

年ふれば老ぞたふれて朽ちぬべき身はすみの江の松ならなくに As the years mount up, Age lays me low and I have withered away, for I, at Suminoe, A pine tree am not… Kinkai wakashū 693

Poems for folding screens. とよ国のきくのそままつおいにけりしらずいく代の年かへにけむ In the land of Toyo The timber pines at Kiku Have grown old; I know not how many ages and Years they have passed through… Kinkai wakashū 692

豊洲　聞浜松　心裳　何妹　相云始 As in the land of Toyo At Kiku the beach-pines, Sweetly, Why has my darling Begun to meet and talk with me? Kakinomoto no Hitomaro Collection Man’yōshū XII: 3130

春秋はかはり行くともわたつ海のなかなる島の松ぞ久しき The springs and autumns May turn on, yet In the broad sea sweep Lying, an isle has Pines eternal. Kinkai wakashū 691

いづくにて世をばつくさむすがはらやふしみの里もあれぬといふものを Where, indeed, Should I live my life? For among the sedge beds The estate of Fushimi Lies in ruins… Kinkai wakashū 690

Topic unknown. いざこゝにわが世は經なむ菅原や伏見の里の荒れまくもおし So, here I will pass my days: The sedge beds of My estate at Fushimi are All overgrown – so sad! Anonymous Kokinshū XVIII: 981

歎きわび世をそむくべきかたしらずよしののおくも住みうしといへり Griving and sorrowing, From this world to withdraw I have no way, for In the depths of Yoshino To dwell is hard, they say. KInkai wakashū 689

Topic unknown. みよしのの山のあなたにやどもがな世のうき時のかくれがにせむ On Yoshino Mountain’s yonder side I would there were a house! For when I do despise the world There would I hide away! Anonymous Kokinshū XVIII: 950

なにはがたうきふししげきあしのはにおきたる露のあはれ世の中 In Naniwa Inlet Lush and many-knotted Reeds leaves Have dewdrops fallen upon them— How sad is this sorry world… Kinkai wakashū 688

Among my miscellaneous poems 世にふればうきことの葉の数ごとにたえず涙の露ぞおきける Living in this world, My words of grief Number the same as My ceaseless tears, Falling as dewdrops. Kinkai wakashū 687

Topic unknown. よにふればうさこそまされみ吉野の岩のかけ道ふみならしてむ Living in this world Brings only an excess of grief; Upon fair Yoshino’s Steep and rocky trails Would I set my feet. Anonymous Kokinshū XVIII: 951

さりともと思ふものから日をへてはしだいしだいによわるかなしさ All is as it was, I thought, but With the passing days More and more I weaken—so sad… KInkai wakashū 686

Composed as an insect poem, when he composed a hundred poem sequence bewailing his sorry lot around the Hōen period [1135-1141].