Last | Poems 301~330 (of 951) | Next

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  • 301
  • Notes
  • The life of our sovereign

    unbounded

    even by a thousand years...

    so it is rather the pines

    that follow his good fortune.

    千代としも

    君がよはひの

    かぎらねば

    松やなかなか

    あえんとすらん

    Chiyo to shi mo

    kimi ga yowai no

    kagira ne ba

    matsu ya nakanaka

    ae n to su ran.

    ちよとしもきみかよはひのかきらねはまつやなかなかあえんとすらん

    ちよとしもきみがよわいのかぎらねばまつやなかなかあえんとすらん

  • 302
  • Notes
  • The world's dust

    swept aside

    here in my hermitage

    I have all need—

    the wind in the pines.

    世のちりを

    余所にはらひて

    行すゑの

    千代をしめたる

    やどの松風

    Yo no chiri wo

    yoso ni harai te

    yukusue no

    chiyo wo shime taru

    yado no matsukaze.

    よのちりをよそにはらひてゆくすゑのちよをしめたるやとのまつかせ

    よのちりをよそにはらいてゆくすえのちよをしめたるやどのまつかぜ

  • 303
  • Notes
  • In the tips of pine branches

    happiness and long life

    sprout as twin needles

    promising

    a thousand years to come.

    行末の

    さちとよはひを

    二葉にて

    千とせをまつや

    久しかるらん

    Yukusue no

    sachi to yowai wo

    futaba ni te

    chitose wo matsu ya

    hisashikaru ran.

    ゆくすゑのさちとよはひをふたはにてちとせをまつやひさしかるらん

    ゆくすえのさちとよわいをふたばにてちとせをまつやひさしかるらん

  • 304
  • Notes
  • Our young bamboo

    piling up happy knots

    year upon year—

    its tips reaching high

    a paragon to us.

    この君は

    めでたきふしを

    重ねつつ

    末の代ながき

    例なりけり

    Ko no kimi wa

    medetaki fushi wo

    kasane tsutsu

    sue no yo nagaki

    tameshi nari keri.

    このきみはめてたきふしをかさねつつすゑのよなかきためしなりけり

    このきみはめでたきふしをかさねつつすえのよながきためしなりけり

  • 305
  • Notes
  • Long in shadow

    the bamboo by the window

    now sprouts freely

    adding segments

    each happy day.

    千代こもる

    まどのくれ竹

    日にそへて

    うれしきふしの

    数やかぞへん

    Chiyo komoru

    mado no kuretake

    hi ni soe te

    ureshiki fushi no

    kazu ya kazoe n.

    ちよこもるまとのくれたけひにそへてうれしきふしのかすやかそへん

    ちよこもるまどのくれたけひにそえてうれしきふしのかずやかぞえん

  • 306
  • Notes
  • In the palms of my hands

    waiting for eons to pass...

    I hear drinking this

    will make me younger—

    the chrysanthemums' hanging dew.

    たなぞこを

    うけて待間も

    千代やへん

    のめば若ゆと

    きくの下露

    Tanazoko wo

    uke te matsu ma mo

    chiyo ya he n

    nome ba wakayu to

    kiku no shitatsuyu.

    たなそこをうけてまつまもちよやへんのめはわかゆときくのしたつゆ

    たなぞこをうけてまつまもちよやへんのめばわかゆときくのしたつゆ

  • 307
  • Notes
  • A young crane

    his timeless voice heard from afar—

    an imperial reign

    for a thousand generations

    to celebrate in song.

    ひなづるの

    行末とほき

    こゑ聞ば

    御代を千とせと

    うたふなりけり

    Hinazuru no

    yukusue tooki

    koe kike ba

    miyo wo chitose to

    utau nari keri.

    ひなつるのゆくすゑとほきこゑきけはみよをちとせとうたふなりけり

    ひなづるのゆくすえとおきこえきけばみよをちとせとうたうなりけり

  • 308
  • Notes
  • 10,000 ages—

    to endure so long

    so well

    downstream waters

    from Turtle Tail Peak.

    万代も

    たえぬ流れと

    しめつらん

    その亀の尾の

    山のした水

    Yorozuyo mo

    tae nu nagare to

    shime tsu ran

    so no kame no o no

    yama no shitamizu.

    よろつよもたえぬなかれとしめつらんそのかめのをのやまのしたみつ

    よろずよもたえぬながれとしめつらんそのかめのおのやまのしたみず

  • 309
  • Notes
  • Thronging turtles—

    from each one

    gathering

    10,000 years

    I count as yours.

    むれがめの

    ひとつひとつの

    万代を

    とりつどへつつ

    君をかぞへん

    Muregame no

    hitotsu hitotsu no

    yorozuyo wo

    tori tsudoe tsutsu

    kimi wo kazoe n.

    むれかめのひとつひとつのよろつよをとりつとへつつきみをかそへん

    むれがめのひとつひとつのよろずよをとりつどへつつきみをかぞへん

  • 310
  • Notes
  • Since this turtle

    overflows its measure

    of 10,000 years

    how long shall

    the one who keeps it live?

    万代の

    ためしにもれし

    かめなれば

    手ならす人も

    幾代へぬらん

    Yorozuyo no

    tameshi ni more shi

    kame nare ba

    tenarasu hito mo

    ikuyo he nu ran.

    よろつよのためしにもれしかめなれはてならすひともいくよへぬらん

    よろずよのためしにもれしかめなればてならすひともいくよへぬらん

  • 311
  • Notes
  • If someone asks

    how I am these days

    I shall answer:

    living serenely

    in a mountain temple.

    このごろを

    とふ人あらば

    山でらに

    うしろ安くて

    在といはまし

    Kono goro wo

    tou hito ara ba

    yamadera ni

    ushiroyasuku te

    ari to iwa mashi.

    このころをとふひとあらはやまてらにうしろやすくてありといはまし

    このごろをとうひとあらばやまでらにうしろやすくてありといわまし

  • 312
  • NotesBuddha Peak, one of the mountains on the eastern edge of Kyoto, holds the grave of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the 16th c. military ruler of Japan, famous for his sweeping ambition, capricious nature and grandiose approach to art and culture.
  • I hear:

    “Set your mind

    on the world to come!”

    on Buddha Peak

    a chirping cuckoo.

    のちの世を

    かけよかけよと

    聞ゆなり

    あみだが峰に

    鳴ほととぎす

    Nochi no yo wo

    kakeyo kakeyo to

    kikoyu nari

    amida ga mine ni

    naku hototogisu.

    のちのよをかけよかけよときこゆなりあみたかみねになくほとときす

    のちのよをかけよかけよときこゆなりあみだがみねになくほととぎす

  • 313
  • NotesThis poem is refers to the Japanese folk tale “A Tea Kettle of Shared Happiness.” A poor man takes pity on a raccoon-dog he finds caught in a trap and sets free. In gratitude the raccoon-dog turns himself into an iron tea kettle, which he urges the man to sell for some money. A monk buys the kettle, scrubs it harshly and sets it on the fire to boil water. Unable to stand the heat, the raccoon-dog tries to revert to his original form, but only succeeds partially, sprouting limbs but retaining the body of a teapot. He runs away, returns to the poor man and suggests another scheme: a traveling circus act featuring the raccoon dog as a teapot on a tightrope. The idea is a success, the man escapes poverty and the tanuki finds a home and family.
  • Having cast aside my body

    and come to this mountain...

    in this unfamiliar place

    I feel uneasy

    with this tea kettle.

    身をすてて

    入にし山も

    ならはねば

    さすが心に

    かかるかまかな

    Mi wo sute te

    iri ni shi yama mo

    narawa ne ba

    sasuga kokoro ni

    kakaru kama kana.

    みをすてていりにしやまもならはねはさすかこころにかかるかまかな

    みをすてていりにしやまもならわねばさすがこころにかかるかまかな

  • 314
  • NotesThe sound of boiling water, especially for tea ceremony, is referred to as “pine wind.”
  • Not an ordinary

    pine wind...

    in this mountain temple

    the sound from a kettle

    is the voice of the Buddha.

    世のつねの

    まつ風ならで

    山寺は

    かまのおとさへ

    法のこゑなり

    Yo no tsune no

    matsukaze nara de

    yamadera wa

    kama no oto sae

    nori no koe nari.

    よのつねのまつかせならてやまてらはかまのおとさへのりのこゑなり

    よのつねのまつかぜならでやまでらはかまのおとさえのりのこえなり

  • 315
  • NotesThough one assumes that Rengetsu witnessed this scene, the Japanese allows the possibility that she herself is the protagonist laying someone to rest, in which case the poem would read like this: “On a summer mountain / beneath thick leaves / I place you / and, against my heart, return... / how sad I am!”
  • On a summer mountain

    beneath thick leaves

    they place you

    and, against their hearts, return...

    how sad they must be!

    なつ山の

    しげきこかげに

    君をおきて

    こころともなく

    かへるわりなさ

    Natsuyama no

    shigeki kokage ni

    kimi wo oki te

    kokoro to mo naku

    kaeru warinasa.

    なつやまのしけきこかけにきみをおきてこころともなくかへるわりなさ

    なつやまのしげきこかげにきみをおきてこころともなくかえるわりなさ

  • 316
  • NotesIn this poem, a noble lady who has just passed away has taken “new lodgings” in her “noble villa” which is a lyric way of indicating her grave.
  • White dewdrops

    adorn her noble villa

    and new lodgings...

    even gale winds

    blow softly in her honor.

    しらつゆの

    玉のおましの

    新むろは

    野わけのかぜも

    心してふけ

    Shiratsuyu no

    tama no omashi no

    niimuro wa

    nowake no kaze mo

    kokoroshi te fuke.

    しらつゆのたまのおましのにひむろはのわけのかせもこころしてふけ

    しらつゆのたまのおましのにいむろはのわけのかぜもこころしてふけ

  • 317
  • NotesThis poem refers to an ancient temple, no longer extant, once at the foot of Buddha Peak, one of the mountains on the eastern edge of Kyoto.
  • Now

    a dew-drenched

    grassy meadow...

    of Buddha Hall

    only the name remains...

    つゆふかき

    くさののはらと

    なりにけり

    ほとけのおまし

    名のみのこりて

    Tsuyu fukaki

    kusano no hara to

    nari ni keri

    hotoke no omashi

    na nomi nokori te.

    つゆふかきくさののはらとなりにけりほとけのおましなのみのこりて

    つゆふかきくさののはらとなりにけりほとけのおましなのみのこりて

  • 318
  • Notes
  • The moss-covered path

    to the old temple

    gone, no trace...

    night after night

    only the moon may enter.

    古寺の

    こけぢはあとも

    なかりけり

    よなよなごとに

    月はとへども

    Furudera no

    kokeji wa ato mo

    nakari keri

    yonayona goto ni

    tsuki wa toe domo.

    ふるてらのこけちはあともなかりけりよなよなことにつきはとへとも

    ふるでらのこけじはあともなかりけりよなよなごとにつきはとえども

  • 319
  • Notes
  • An old roof tile

    fallen and mossy

    in the thick grass...

    the steadfastly

    pure-shining moon...

    古がはら

    おちてこけむす

    くさむらに

    こころながくも

    すめる月かな

    Furugawara

    ochi te koke musu

    kusamura ni

    kokoro nagaku mo

    sume ru tsuki kana.

    ふるかはらおちてこけむすくさむらにこころなかくもすめるつきかな

    ふるがわらおちてこけむすくさむらにこころながくもすめるつきかな

  • 320
  • Notes
  • Reflecting

    on ancient times

    and burial mounds for ears

    I hear the voice of autumn:

    the wind over the rushes.

    ふるき世を

    おもひねざめの

    耳づかに

    秋のこゑきく

    をぎの上かぜ

    Furuki yo wo

    omoi nezame no

    mimizuka ni

    aki no koe kiku

    ogi no uwakaze

    ふるきよをおもひねさめのみみつかにあきのこゑきくをきのうはかせ

    ふるきよをおもいねざめのみみづかにあきのこえきくおぎのうわかぜ

  • 321
  • Notes
  • The autumn night

    and my own life

    sharply tilted...

    reflecting here

    on the sinking moon.

    秋の夜も

    わが世もいたく

    かたぶきて

    入がたちかき

    月をしぞおもふ

    Aki no yo mo

    wa ga yo mo itaku

    katabuki te

    irigata chikaki

    tsuki wo shi zo omou.

    あきのよもわかよもいたくかたふきていりかたちかきつきをしそおもふ

    あきのよもわがよもいたくかたぶきていりがたちかきつきをしぞおもう

  • 322
  • Notes
  • Counting

    the moons

    at rest

    in each dewdrop—

    night has deepened.

    つゆごとに

    やどれる月の

    かずかずを

    かぞふるほどに

    さ夜ふけにけり

    Tsuyu goto ni

    yadore ru tsuki no

    kazukazu wo

    kazouru hodo ni

    sayo fuke ni keri.

    つゆことにやとれるつきのかすかすをかそふるほとにさよふけにけり

    つゆごとにやどれるつきのかずかずをかぞうるほどにさよふけにけり

  • 323
  • Notes
  • Still upon my sleeves

    they held the figure

    of the setting moon

    from which I am sad to part—

    white beads of dew.

    入月を

    をしむたもとに

    のこりけり

    かげをやどしし

    露のしら玉

    Iru tsuki wo

    oshimu tamoto ni

    nokori keri

    kage wo yadoshi shi

    tsuyu no shiratama.

    いるつきををしむたもとにのこりけりかけをやとししつゆのしらたま

    いるつきをおしむたもとにのこりけりかげをやどししつゆのしらたま

  • 324
  • NotesThough the action is clear (the moon softening Rengetsu's sleeves) the way it does so is not. It could be that the moon makes Rengetsu cry, and her tears soften her sleeves by making them wet. It could also be that the moon bring pleasant memories that make her comfortable and nostalgic.
  • Night after night

    the moon softens

    my sleeves...

    comfortable to wear

    I feel...

    よなよなの

    月になれ行

    ころも手は

    うらなつかしき

    ここちこそすれ

    Yonayona no

    tsuki ni nare yuku

    koromode wa

    uranatsukashiki

    kokochi koso sure.

    よなよなのつきになれゆくころもてはうらなつかしきここちこそすれ

    よなよなのつきになれゆくころもではうらなつかしきここちこそすれ

  • 325
  • Notes
  • My heart cannot embrace

    the fullness of the world

    yet I find myself

    gazing at the moon

    more than I should.

    あはれしる

    こころもなくて

    月のみは

    身にあまるまで

    ながめつるかな

    Aware shiru

    kokoro mo naku te

    tsuki nomi wa

    mi ni amaru made

    nagame tsuru kana.

    あはれしるこころもなくてつきのみはみにあまるまてなかめつるかな

    あわれしるこころもなくてつきのみはみにあまるまでながめつるかな

  • 326
  • Notes
  • You have passed away

    and now at the hanging

    bamboo blind

    is it your familiar figure

    that the moon seeks?

    君なくて

    おろしこめたる

    をすのとに

    ありしみかげを

    月やもとめむ

    Kimi naku te

    oroshi kome taru

    osu no to ni

    ari shi mikage wo

    tsuki ya motome n.

    きみなくておろしこめたるをすのとにありしみかけをつきやもとめむ

    きみなくておろしこめたるおすのとにありしみかげをつきやもとめん

  • 327
  • Notes
  • Traces of the music

    played beneath the moon

    the night you were there

    make me wistful...

    ah, the pine wind at my eaves.

    ましし夜の

    月のしらべし

    もののねの

    名ごりさびしき

    のきの松風

    Mashi shi yo no

    tsuki no shirabe shi

    mononone no

    nagori sabishiki

    noki no matsukaze.

    まししよのつきのしらへしもののねのなこりさひしきのきのまつかせ

    まししよのつきのしらべしもののねのなごりさびしきのきのまつかぜ

  • 328
  • Notes
  • Tired of the world

    and autumn having come

    I left

    alas, faintly hooked by a willow

    this heart of mine...

    世を秋に

    おもひすつれど

    つゆばかり

    やなぎにかかる

    我こころかな

    Yo wo aki ni

    omoi sutsure do

    tsuyu bakari

    yanagi ni kakaru

    wa ga kokoro kana.

    よをあきにおもひすつれとつゆはかりやなきにかかるわかこころかな

    よをあきにおもいすつれどつゆばかりやなぎにかかるわがこころかな

  • 329
  • Notes
  • “Eons,

    continue, continue!”

    she sings—

    from a bird at dawn

    the first voice of spring.

    ちよ萬

    かけよかけよと

    うたふなり

    明ゆくとりの

    はるの初聲

    Chiyo yorozu

    kakeyo kakeyo to

    utau nari

    ake yuku tori no

    haru no hatsukoe.

    ちよよろつかけよかけよとうたふなりあけゆくとりのはるのはつこゑ

    ちよよろずかけよかけよとうたうなりあけゆくとりのはるのはつこえ

  • 330
  • Notes
  • An indescribable

    feeling this morning!

    Why had I been

    until just yesterday

    sad to part from the closing year?

    いひしらぬ

    けさのこころよ

    きのふまで

    くれゆくとしを

    何をしみけん

    Ii shira nu

    kesa no kokoro yo

    kinou made

    kure yuku toshi wo

    nani oshimi ken.

    いひしらぬけさのこころよきのふまてくれゆくとしをなにをしみけん

    いいしらぬけさのこころよきのうまでくれゆくとしをなにおしみけん


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