Last | Poems 541~570 (of 951) | Next

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  • 541
  • Notes
  • In the clear moonlight

    of an evening at Bon

    people come out

    to frolic and dance:

    silver grasses and star lilies.

    かげ清き

    ぼにの月よに

    匂ふらん

    かぜに袖ふる

    尾花ひめゆり

    Kage kiyoki

    boni no tsukiyo ni

    niou ran

    kaze ni sode furu

    obana himeyuri.

    かけきよきほにのつきよににほふらんかせにそてふるをはなひめゆり

    かげきよきぼにのつきよににおうらんかぜにそでふるおばなひめゆり

  • 542
  • NotesThere is a variant of this poem discovered on a tanzaku (oblong poem card) that reads: Under the obon moon / people flutter... / golden lace / and silver grass / dancing late at night(うらぼにの/月にうかれて/をみなへし/尾花まじりに/をどるよはかな-Uraboni no/ tsuki ni ukare te/ ominaeshi/ obana majiri ni/ odoru yowa kana.)
  • Among the silver grasses

    stems of golden lace

    are dancing

    having fluttered out

    this moonlit evening of Bon.

    をみなべし

    尾花まじりに

    をどるなり

    ぼにの月よに

    うかれいでつつ

    Ominabeshi

    obana majiri ni

    odoru nari

    boni no tsukiyo ni

    ukare ide tsutsu.

    をみなへしをはなましりにをとるなりほにのつきよにうかれいてつつ

    おみなべしおばなまじりにおどるなりぼにのつきよにうかれいでつつ

  • 543
  • NotesWild geese cry “Kari, kari...” a double entendre meaning both geese (雁) and temporary (仮).
  • The autumn-coming

    spring-going wild geese

    crying “this fleeting world...

    do not clasp it to your heart!”

    shall surely wake me.

    秋はきて

    はるはわかるる

    かりの世に

    こころとむなと

    おどろかすらん

    Aki wa ki te

    haru wa wakaruru

    kari no yo ni

    kokoro tomu na to

    odorokasu ran.

    あきはきてはるはわかるるかりのよにこころとむなとおとろかすらん

    あきはきてはるはわかるるかりのよにこころとむなとおどろかすらん

  • 544
  • NotesIn Japan bush clover sheds its petals in autumn, at about the time the wild geese return from their migration to northern climes.
  • For a long spell...

    how do bush clovers know

    of the relentlessly coming

    wild geese

    and to shed their petals?

    久かたの

    雨まもおかず

    来るかりを

    いかでか萩の

    しりてちるらん

    Hisakata no

    amema mo oka zu

    kuru kari wo

    ikade ka hagi no

    shiri te chiru ran.

    ひさかたのあめまもおかすくるかりをいかてかはきのしりてちるらん

    ひさかたのあめまもおかずくるかりをいかでかはぎのしりてちるらん

  • 545
  • NotesMano Bay (真野の入江) is a famous place among waka poets located on the shore of Lake Biwa, north of the city of Otsu (大津), present-day Shiga Prefecture (滋賀), a short distance from Kyoto.
  • Beckoned

    by the silver grasses of Mano

    where the wind blows through...

    alighting on the bay—

    wild geese from the heavens.

    かぜ渡る

    まののすすきに

    まねかれて

    入江におつる

    天つかりがね

    Kaze wataru

    mano no susuki ni

    maneka re te

    irie ni otsuru

    amatsu karigane.

    かせわたるまののすすきにまねかれていりえにおつるあまつかりかね

    かぜわたるまののすすきにまねかれていりえにおつるあまつかりがね

  • 546
  • Notes
  • Dark clouds

    across the moon

    unwelcome

    until I hear their cries—

    a sky full of wild geese.

    聲なくば

    かれも雲かと

    いとはまし

    月にくまなす

    あまつかりがね

    Koe naku ba

    kare mo kumo ka to

    itowa mashi

    tsuki ni kuma nasu

    amatsu karigane.

    こゑなくはかれもくもかといとはましつきにくまなすあまつかりかね

    こえなくばかれもくもかといとわましつきにくまなすあまつかりがね

  • 547
  • Notes
  • Over a mountain village

    at sunset

    the wild geese of autumn

    pass over a bridge of clouds

    and when it ends, fly on...

    山のはの

    夕べの雲の

    かけはしを

    つぎてもわたる

    秋のかりがね

    Yama no ha no

    yuube no kumo no

    kakehashi wo

    tsugi te mo wataru

    aki no karigane.

    やまのはのゆふへのくものかけはしをつきてもわたるあきのかりかね

    やまのはのゆうべのくものかけはしをつぎてもわたるあきのかりがね

  • 548
  • Notes
  • In my sleep

    wishing for a letter

    from my hometown...

    high above my traveling pillow

    wild geese cry and cross the sky.

    古里の

    たよりもがなと

    おもひねの

    旅のまくらに

    雁鳴わたる

    Furusato no

    tayori moga na to

    omoine no

    tabi no makura ni

    kari naki wataru.

    ふるさとのたよりもかなとおもひねのたひのまくらにかりなきわたる

    ふるさとのたよりもがなとおもいねのたびのまくらにかりなきわたる

  • 549
  • NotesThe title is “On the Second Anniversary of Hoida Tadatomo's Death.” Hoida Tadamoto (穂井田忠友) (1791~1847) was a scholar of ancient Japanese history and culture (kokugakusha / 国学者), archeologist (koukogakusha / 考古学者) and waka poet (kajin / 歌人).
  • “Since you died

    three years have passed...”

    like wild geese

    people cry and gather—

    how sad the autumn.

    君なくて

    みとせすぎぬと

    かりがねの

    鳴てよりあふ

    秋ぞかなしき

    Kimi naku te

    mitose sugi nu to

    karigane no

    naki te yori au

    aki zo kanashiki.

    きみなくてみとせすきぬとかりかねのなきてよりあふあきそかなしき

    きみなくてみとせすぎぬとかりがねのなきてよりあうあきぞかなしき

  • 550
  • NotesThe title is “The Faint Voice of a Stag.”
  • The gale winds

    blowing down from the peak

    are strong

    so, I wonder whether or not

    that is the cry of a stag?

    吹おろす

    峰のあらしは

    はげしくて

    それかあらぬか

    さをしかの聲

    Fuki orosu

    mine no arashi wa

    hageshiku te

    sore ka ara nu ka

    saoshika no koe.

    ふきおろすみねのあらしははけしくてそれかあらぬかさをしかのこゑ

    ふきおろすみねのあらしははげしくてそれかあらぬかさおしかのこえ

  • 551
  • Notes
  • The halfmoon high

    meeting a lover

    difficult...

    that must be a lone stag

    crying through the night.

    あふことは

    かたわれ月の

    かげ更て

    ひとりやしかの

    鳴あかすらん

    Au koto wa

    katawarezuki no

    kage fuke te

    hitori ya shika no

    naki akasu ran.

    あふことはかたわれつきのかけふけてひとりやしかのなきあかすらん

    あうことはかたわれづきのかげふけてひとりやしかのなきあかすらん

  • 552
  • NotesThis poem has a word play, stringing together three words with similar terms: “kara-koro” (an onomonopateic sound for striking wood), “karakoromo” (Chinese robe), and “koro mo” (here).
  • “Kara-koro” resounds

    in the striking a fulling block

    in the name of Chinese robes

    through the deepening night

    here in this far-flung mountain village.

    きぬたうつ

    音はからころ

    からころも

    ころもふけゆく

    遠の山ざと

    Kinuta utsu

    oto wa karakoro

    karakoromo

    koro mo fuke yuku

    ochi no yamazato.

    きぬたうつおとはからころからころもころもふけゆくをちのやまさと

    きぬたうつおとはからころからころもころもふけゆくおちのやまざと

  • 553
  • NotesThe prologue is “On my way east, in the 9th month...” Mount Utsu and the Tsuta Footpath are in what used to be the Suruga domain, present-day Shizuoka Prefecture (静岡県). Since ancient times, they have been used as literary devices to indicate dark, narrow places, full of vines and difficult to pass places, appearing this way in the 10th collection of Stories from Ise (Ise Monogatari / 伊勢物語).
  • On Mount Utsu...

    Do they also beat robes

    like this back home?

    Miyako hangs in my mind

    among the vines along Tsuta Path.

    みやこにも

    かくや衣を

    うつの山

    心にかかる

    つたのほそ道

    Miyako ni mo

    kaku ya koromo wo

    Utsunoyama

    kokoro ni kakaru

    tsuta no hosomichi.

    みやこにもかくやころもをうつのやまこころにかかるつたのほそみち

    みやこにもかくやころもをうつのやまこころにかかるつたのほそみち

  • 554
  • Notes
  • When the millennial past first bloomed

    and the autumns of the future shall close

    no one

    knows―

    a white chrysanthemum.

    咲そめし

    千代のむかしも

    ゆく末の

    秋のかぎりも

    しら菊の花

    Saki some shi

    chiyo no mukashi mo

    yukusue no

    aki no kagiri mo

    shiragiku no hana.

    さきそめしちよのむかしもゆくすゑのあきのかきりもしらきくのはな

    さきそめしちよのむかしもゆくすえのあきのかぎりもしらぎくのはな

  • 555
  • Notes
  • I drink in its dew

    infusing my body with the fragrance

    and in autumn

    give no thought to this floating world—

    a white chrysanthemum.

    露をのみ

    かをみにしめて

    秋はただ

    うきよのことは

    しら菊の花

    Tsuyu wo nomi

    ka wo mi ni shime te

    aki wa tada

    ukiyo no koto wa

    shiragiku no hana.

    つゆをのみかをみにしめてあきはたたうきよのことはしらきくのはな

    つゆをのみかをみにしめてあきはただうきよのことはしらぎくのはな

  • 556
  • NotesIn Japanese folklore drinking chrysanthemum dew promises long life.
  • Like pearls

    they will be colored for eons...

    upon the sleeves

    of this mountain rustic—

    spilling drops of chrysanthemum dew.

    玉なして

    千代も匂はん

    山人の

    袖にこぼるる

    菊の下露

    Tama nashi te

    chiyo mo niowa n

    yamahito no

    sode ni koboruru

    kiku no shitatsuyu.

    たまなしてちよもにほはんやまひとのそてにこほるるきくのしたつゆ

    たまなしてちよもにおわんやまひとのそでにこぼるるきくのしたつゆ

  • 557
  • Notes
  • I hear that scooping up

    and drinking this

    brings eons free

    of old age and death:

    crysanthemum dew!

    くみあげて

    のめばすなはち

    千代萬

    不老不死と

    きくの下露

    Kumi age te

    nome ba sunawachi

    chiyo yorozu

    oi zu shina zu to

    kiku no shita tsuyu.

    くみあけてのめはすなはちちよよろつおいすしなすときくのしたつゆ

    くみあげてのめばすなわちちよよろずおいずしなずときくのしたつゆ

  • 558
  • Notes
  • The first maple leaves

    of Mount Higurashi

    in the falling winter rain...

    when morning comes

    in which shades shall they appear?

    しぐれゆく

    日ぐらし山の

    初もみぢ

    あけなばいかに

    いろにいづらん

    Shigure yuku

    Higurashiyama no

    hatsumomiji

    ake na ba ikani

    iro ni izu ran.

    しくれゆくひくらしやまのはつもみちあけなはいかにいろにいつらん

    しぐれゆくひぐらしやまのはつもみじあけなばいかにいろにいずらん

  • 559
  • Notes
  • Gazing upon

    reddening figures

    in a mountain pool—

    tips of sheltering branches

    flushed with autumn.

    山のゐの

    あかくなりゆく

    かげみれば

    おほふ梢は

    もみぢしてけり

    Yamanoi no

    akaku nari yuku

    kage mire ba

    oou kozue wa

    momiji shi te keri.

    やまのゐのあかくなりゆくかけみれはおほふこすゑはもみちしてけり

    やまのいのあかくなりゆくかげみればおおうこずえはもみじしてけり

  • 560
  • NotesYamabime (山姫) is a Shinto goddess said to be present on all mountains.
  • The Mountain Princess

    hides

    in a curtain of mist...

    letting slip a hint―

    her sleeve of crimson leaves.

    山びめは

    霧のとばりに

    いかくれて

    紅葉のそでや

    ほのめかすらん

    Yamabime wa

    kiri no tobari ni

    i kakure te

    momiji no sode ya

    honomekasu ran.

    やまひめはきりのとはりにいかくれてもみちのそてやほのめかすらん

    やまびめはきりのとばりにいかくれてもみじのそでやほのめかすらん

  • 561
  • NotesAwata (粟田山) is an area in Kyoto that runs from the flatlands east of the imperial palace up into the foothills of the mountains girding Kyoto on the east. “Lower leaves” here means those on the lower branches of the trees, which are the first to fall in autumn.
  • A faint white cloud...

    on the mountains of Awata

    lower leaves

    have just begun to fall...

    how sad the autumn.

    白雲の

    あは田の山の

    したもみぢ

    かつちりそめて

    秋ぞかなしき

    Shirakumo no

    Awata no yama no

    shitamomiji

    katsu chiri some te

    aki zo kanashiki.

    しらくものあはたのやまのしたもみちかつちりそめてあきそかなしき

    しらくものあわたのやまのしたもみじかつちりそめてあきぞかなしき

  • 562
  • NotesMount Takao ( 高雄山/ Takaoyama) is in northeastern Kyoto, present-day Ukyou Ward (Ukyouku / 右京区).
  • This branch

    I snapped and brought

    from the valley

    below Mount Takao―

    a swatch of brocade.

    たをり来し

    この一枝は

    高尾山

    たにの錦の

    さいでなるらん

    Taori ko shi

    ko no hitoeda wa

    Takaoyama

    tani no nishiki no

    saide naru ran.

    たをりこしこのひとえたはたかをやまたにのにしきのさいてなるらん

    たおりこしこのひとえだはたかおやまたにのにしきのさいでなるらん

  • 563
  • Notes
  • What dyes

    the once-white waves

    crimson―

    autumn leaves

    from the riverbank.

    しろかりし

    波のあやをも

    紅に

    そむるはきしの

    紅葉なりけり

    Shirokari shi

    nami no aya wo mo

    kurenai ni

    somuru wa kishi no

    momiji nari keri.

    しろかりしなみのあやをもくれなゐにそむるはきしのもみちなりけり

    しろかりしなみのあやをもくれないにそむるはきしのもみじなりけり

  • 564
  • Notes
  • Do even the white waves

    rise in autumn colors?

    An ancient bow...

    On the mountains above the bay—

    maple leaves turned crimson.

    しら波も

    秋のいろにや

    たつか弓

    磯山もみぢ

    くれなゐにして

    Shiranami mo

    aki no iro ni ya

    tatsukayumi

    isoyama momiji

    kurenai ni shi te.

    しらなみもあきのいろにやたつかゆみいそやまもみちくれなゐにして

    しらなみもあきのいろにやたつかゆみいそやまもみじくれないにして

  • 565
  • Notes
  • To keep them

    there is no one...

    in this gale

    half the autumn leaves fall

    here in Shirakawa Village.

    とどむべき

    人もあらしに

    紅葉は

    なかばちりゆく

    白川の里

    Todomu beki

    hito mo arashi ni

    momijiba wa

    nakaba chiri yuku

    Shirakawa no sato.

    ととむへきひともあらしにもみちははなかはちりゆくしらかはのさと

    とどむべきひともあらしにもみじばはなかばちりゆくしらかわのさと

  • 566
  • NotesThe title is “After Entering Buddhism, Upon Seeing Autumn Leaves of Deep Color.” In waka, when a sleeve or sleeves undertake action, they symbolizes a hand, and by extension, its owner. Ink-black sleeves indicate a priest or nun, since black is the color of renunciation of pleasurable things, color and fragrance among them.
  • Dyeing even

    my ink-black sleeves

    which had set aside

    color and fragrance—

    today's autumn leaves.

    いろも香も

    おもひ捨たる

    墨染の

    袖だにそむる

    けふの紅葉ば

    Iro mo ka mo

    omoi sute taru

    sumizome no

    sode dani somuru

    kyou no momijiba.

    いろもかもおもひすてたるすみそめのそてたにそむるけふのもみちは

    いろもかもおもいすてたるすみぞめのそでだにそむるきょうのもみじば

  • 567
  • Notes“Hahaso” (konara oak / quercus serrata), is a type of oak tree, known in Japan for the beautiful color of its leaves.
  • In my garden

    oak leaves

    flutter

    falling one by one

    this autumn twilight.

    わが庭の

    ははその紅葉

    ほろほろと

    一葉づつちる

    秋の夕暮

    Wa ga niwa no

    hahaso no momiji

    horohoro to

    hitoha zutsu chiru

    aki no yuugure.

    わかにはのははそのもみちほろほろとひとはつつちるあきのゆふくれ

    わがにわのははそのもみじほろほろとひとはずつちるあきのゆうぐれ

  • 568
  • NotesWakareji (the path ones takes upon parting from people in a hometown, a lover, or in this case, from autumn) is a term first used in a poem from the Kokin Wakashuu (古今和歌集) by its compiler Ki no Tsurayuki (紀貫之 / ???~945) and in many waka since.
  • In the reaped mountain paddies

    on the path

    parting with autumn

    how sad the figure

    of a remaining scarecrow.

    苅果し

    山田の秋の

    わかれ路に

    のこるそほづの

    影ぞさびしき

    Kari hate shi

    yamada no aki no

    wakareji ni

    nokoru soozu no

    kage zo sabishiki.

    かりはてしやまたのあきのわかれしにのこるそおすのかけそさひしき

    かりはてしやまだのあきのわかれじにのこるそおずのかげぞさびしき

  • 569
  • Notes
  • Having begun to turn color

    the tips of trees in the foothills

    also shed their leaves...

    today at the end of autumn

    here in Akishino village.

    そめそめし

    外山のこ末

    かつちりて

    けふにとぢむる

    秋篠の里

    Some some shi

    toyama no kozue

    katsu chiri te

    kyou ni tojimuru

    Akishino no sato.

    そめそめしとやまのこすゑかつちりてけふにとちむるあきしののさと

    そめそめしとやまのこずえかつちりてきょうにとじむるあきしののさと

  • 570
  • Notes
  • One I glimpsed

    through an old bamboo blind

    no longer there...

    stitches broken

    the autumn wind blows through.

    すきかげに

    見し人もなし

    ふるすだれ

    あみめはづれて

    秋風ぞふく

    Sukikage ni

    mi shi hito mo nashi

    furu sudare

    amime hazure te

    akikaze zo fuku.

    すきかけにみしひともなしふるすたれあみめはつれてあきかせそふく

    すきかげにみしひともなしふるすだれあみめはずれてあきかぜぞふく


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