Last | Poems 751~780 (of 951) | Next

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  • 751
  • Notes
  • Even in the old days

    unlike a flower...

    an ugly stalk of grass

    now withered and blackened―

    a humiliating figure.

    むかしだに

    花にはあらぬ

    しこ草の

    かれてくろみし

    はてぞやさしき

    Mukashi dani

    hana ni wa ara nu

    shikogusa no

    kare te kuromi shi

    hate zo yasashiki.

    むかしたにはなにはあらぬしこくさのかれてくろみしはてそやさしき

    むかしだにはなにはあらぬしこぐさのかれてくろみしはてぞやさしき

  • 752
  • NotesRengetsu is addressing her parents at their grave.
  • Feeling at once

    wistful and glad

    you shall see me

    as a figure

    old and changed...

    あはれとも

    またうれしとも

    見ますらん

    老てかはれる

    おのがすがたを

    Aware to mo

    mata ureshi to mo

    mi masu ran

    oi te kaware ru

    ono ga sugata wo.

    あはれともまたうれしともみますらんおいてかはれるおのかすかたを

    あわれともまたうれしともみますらんおいてかわれるおのがすがたを

  • 753
  • Notes
  • Preparing a journey

    to eighty corners

    I must hurry...

    in a world of uncertain fate

    having passed my best days.

    やそくまの

    たびよそひこそ

    いそがるれ

    さだめなき世に

    さたすぎし身は

    Yasokuma no

    tabiyosoi koso

    isogarure

    sadame naki yo ni

    sada sugi shi mi wa.

    やそくまのたひよそひこそいそかるれさためなきよにさたすきしみは

    やそくまのたびよそいこそいそがるれさだめなきよにさだすぎしみは

  • 754
  • Notes
  • When you are old

    It's best to sleep

    since only dreams

    can return you

    to the past.

    老はただ

    ねてこそすぐせ

    夢ならで

    むかしにかへる

    よしもなければ

    Oi wa tada

    ne te koso suguse

    yume nara de

    mukashi ni kaeru

    yoshi mo nakere ba.

    おいはたたねてこそすくせゆめならてむかしにかへるよしもなけれは

    おいはただねてこそすぐせゆめならでむかしにかえるよしもなければ

  • 755
  • Notes“Neyo to no kane” refers to a bell rung around 10:00 at night.
  • So old

    I get drowsy before dark...

    then oddly

    awakened by the bell

    marking the time for sleep.

    老ぬれば

    よひまどひして

    なかなかに

    ねよとの鐘に

    めをさましつつ

    Oi nure ba

    yoimadoi shi te

    nakanaka ni

    neyo to no kane ni

    me wo samashi tsutsu.

    おいぬれはよひまとひしてなかなかにねよとのかねにめをさましつつ

    おいぬればよいまどいしてなかなかにねよとのかねにめをさましつつ

  • 756
  • Notes
  • I do not even wish

    for the many weeds of poverty

    earnestly taking

    this world

    as a temporary lodging.

    むぐらだに

    八重はたのまず

    世の中を

    ひとへにかりの

    宿とおもへば

    Mugura dani

    yae wa tanoma zu

    yononaka wo

    hitoe ni kari no

    yado to omoe ba.

    むくらたにやへはたのますよのなかをひとへにかりのやととおもへは

    むぐらだにやえはたのまずよのなかをひとえにかりのやどとおもえば

  • 757
  • NotesNarihisago (bottle gourd / 生り瓢 / Lagenaria siceraria var. gourda) is used in the poem for two primary reasons. The first syllable “nari” invokes the verb “naru” (become), implied in the line 4: “now (I have become) very nearly eighty.” Bottle gourds, when dried, are feather light) underscoring the adverb "karoku" (lightly) in the first line of the poem. Moon, snow and flower comprise a classic aesthetic constellation from a poem by Bai Juyi (772~846), a Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty (618~907): 寄殷協律 (For In Kyouritsu). “We had passed five years peacefully together (五歳優游同過日), but one morning, it faded out like clouds (一朝消散似浮雲). All my friends with whom I enjoyed zither, poetry and drink have gone (琴詩酒友皆抛我); when I see snow, moon and flower, I remember you best (雪月花時最憶君). How many times did we hear [the songs] 'Koukei' and 'Hakujitsu' (幾度聴鶏歌白日) When we were riding our horses, we also composed a song about a lady in a red robes. (亦曾騎馬詠紅裙). (呉娘暮雨蕭蕭曲). (自別江南更不聞). I haven't heard the song since we parted at Kounan (江南).
  • I have lived lightly

    enchanted by

    moon, snow and flower

    now very nearly eighty—

    ah, a bottle gourd...

    よをかろく

    月雪花に

    うかれきて

    八十ぢもちかく

    なりひさご哉

    Yo wo karoku

    tsuki yuki hana ni

    ukare ki te

    yasoji mo chikaku

    narihisago kana.

    よをかろくつきゆきはなにうかれきてやそちもちかくなりひさこかな

    よをかろくつきゆきはなにうかれきてやそじもちかくなりひさごかな

  • 758
  • NotesThe title is: “Reflection.”
  • Having lived in the world like this

    I shall vanish

    relying

    on the hereafter...

    a dewdrop at an old temple.

    消えはてん

    のちにたのみを

    かけつれば

    此世はかくて

    ふる寺のつゆ

    Kie hate n

    nochi ni tanomi wo

    kake tsure ba

    ko no yo wa kaku te

    furudera no tsuyu.

    きえはてんのちにたのみをかけつれはこのよはかくてふるてらのつゆ

    きえはてんのちにたのみをかけつればこのよはかくてふるでらのつゆ

  • 759
  • Notes
  • When morning comes

    I lighten my heart with clay...

    when evening comes

    I pray to the Buddha...

    so nothing concerns me.

    あけたてば

    埴もてすさび

    くれゆけば

    佛をろがみ

    おもふことなし

    Ake tate ba

    hani mote susabi

    kure yuke ba

    hotoke orogami

    omou koto nashi.

    あけたてははにもてすさひくれゆけはほとけをろかみおもふことなし

    あけたてばはにもてすさびくれゆけばほとけおろがみおもうことなし

  • 760
  • NotesThis poem also appears in the later volume Furuzuka no Kitsune, the ninth of its eighteen poems.
  • To go and live

    in the beautiful world

    of the Buddha

    with my close ones

    shall be pleasant indeed.

    うるはしき

    佛のくにに

    おもふどち

    往きてすみなば

    うれしからまし

    Uruwashiki

    hotoke no kuni ni

    omou dochi

    yuki te sumi na ba

    ureshikara mashi.

    うるはしきほとけのくににおもふとちゆきてすみなはうれしからまし

    うるわしきほとけのくににおもうどちゆきてすみなばうれしからまし

  • 761
  • NotesThis poem also appears in the later volume Furuzuka no Kitsune, the sixth of its eighteen poems.
  • Like smoke

    from offering incense...

    on a straight path

    never giving way―

    the heart I wish to have.

    たてまつる

    香のけぶりの

    一すぢに

    をはりみだれぬ

    心ともがな

    Tatematsuru

    kou no keburi no

    hitosuji ni

    owari midare nu

    kokoro to moga na.

    たてまつるかうのけふりのひとすちにをはりみたれぬこころともかな

    たてまつるこうのけぶりのひとすじにおわりみだれぬこころともがな

  • 762
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “[Inscription] for a Flower Vase Before a Statue of the Buddha.” “Sharing fate with the Buddha” (enishi / 縁) refers to the notion that Buddha guides souls onto his path. The string cherry (itozakura / 糸桜 / Cerasus spachiana f. spachiana) is a tree of many subtypes common throughout Japan.
  • In the sacred hand of the Buddha

    with whom we share fate

    a branch from a string cherry...

    I place these blossoms

    in honor of his teachings.

    えにしある

    佛のみての

    いとざくら

    花やみのりの

    手向にはせん

    Enishi aru

    hotoke no mite no

    itozakura

    hana ya minori no

    tamuke ni wa se n.

    えにしあるほとけのみてのいとさくらはなやみのりのたむけにはせん

    えにしあるほとけのみてのいとざくらはなやみのりのたむけにはせん

  • 763
  • Notes
  • Even on such a cold night

    I lie prone

    before the Buddha...

    dressed

    in dun-dyed robes.

    寒きよも

    佛のまへに

    うつぶしぬ

    うつぶしぞめの

    袖かづきつつ

    Samuki yo mo

    hotoke no mae ni

    utsubushi nu

    utsubushizome no

    sode kazuki tsutsu.

    さむきよもほとけのまへにうつふしぬうつふしそめのそてかつきつつ

    さむきよもほとけのまえにうつぶしぬうつぶしぞめのそでかずきつつ

  • 764
  • NotesA variant of this poem appears in the later volume Furuzuka no Kitsune, the eighth of its eighteen poems, which ends with "...usuyuki." (light snow) instead of the standard "shirakumo" (white clouds). Mount Nochise is near the village of Obama, present-day Fukui Prefecture.
  • By the pure wind

    of the Buddha's words

    I wish them swept away―

    the hanging white clouds

    before the mountain of the next world.

    あきらけき

    みのりの風に

    はらはなん

    のちせの山に

    かかるしら雲

    Akirakeki

    minori no kaze ni

    harawa na n

    Nochise no yama ni

    kakaru shirakumo.

    あきらけきみのりのかせにはらはなんのちせのやまにかかるしらくも

    あきらけきみのりのかぜにはらわなんのちせのやまにかかるしらくも

  • 765
  • NotesYoshimizu (吉水) was a sacred well in the Maruyama area (円山) of eastern Miyako (modern day Kyoto). Water from the well was used in the accession of members of the imperial family to office of abbott of the nearby Tendai Sect temple called Shourein'in (青蓮院) and symbolizes the Buddha's grace flowing freely to all.
  • The farthest waters

    flowing from Yoshimizu

    have spread out

    filling the four directions

    with the sublime nature of the Buddha.

    吉水の

    ながれの末の

    ひろごりて

    四方にみちたる

    法のたふとさ

    Yoshimizu no

    nagare no sue no

    hirogori te

    yomo ni michi taru

    nori no toutosa.

    よしみつのなかれのすゑのひろこりてよもにみちたるのりのたふとさ

    よしみずのながれのすえのひろごりてよもにみちたるのりのとうとさ

  • 766
  • Notes
  • Here in this mountain village

    I would so enjoy a friend

    who also dislikes the world...

    we could speak

    of the old days passed in vain.

    山里に

    浮世いとはん

    友もがな

    むなしくすぎし

    昔かたらん

    Yamazato ni

    ukiyo itowa n

    tomo moga na

    munashiku sugi shi

    mukashi katara n.

    やまさとにうきよいとはんとももかなむなしくすきしむかしかたらん

    やまざとにうきよいとわんとももがなむなしくすぎしむかしかたらん

  • 767
  • NotesThe prologue reads: For the beginning of “Ama no Karumo.”
  • Who will find

    these poor poems

    tasteful

    since the nun who wrote them

    has not even a child to share them with?

    あはれとも

    誰かは見らむ

    もしほ草

    かきおくあまの

    こだになければ

    Aware tomo

    tare ka wa mi ran

    moshiogusa

    kaki oku ama no

    ko dani nakere ba.

    あはれともたれかはみらむもしほくさかきおくあまのこたになけれは

    あわれともたれかはみらんもしおぐさかきおくあまのこだになければ

  • 768
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “For the waka anthology of Kogakuan (古岳庵).” Kogakuan was the pen name of Yuushin (幽真,1811-1876), a priest and waka poet of the late Edo and early Meiji periods. Since the waka anthology he compiled is called the Yamabikoshuu (空谷伝声集), Rengetsu used “yamabiko” (echo) in her poem.
  • Hearing

    a mountain echo...

    it seems

    to be your voice

    chanting sutras.

    やまびこの

    ひびくをきけば

    君がその

    おこなふ法の

    聲にぞありける

    Yamabiko no

    hibiku wo kike ba

    kimi ga so no

    okonau nori no

    koe ni zo ari keru.

    やまひこのひひくをきけはきみかそのおこなふのりのこゑにそありける

    やまびこのひびくをきけばきみがそのおこなうのりのこえにぞありける

  • 769
  • Notes
  • Pines in a vast stand

    enfold the shrine fence

    in deep green—

    for how many ages

    will they wax and flourish?

    神垣の

    ちもとのまつの

    ふかみどり

    いく世世かけて

    おひさかゆらん

    Kamigaki no

    chimoto no matsu no

    fukamidori

    ikuyoyo kake te

    oi sakayu ran.

    かみかきのちもとのまつのふかみとりいくよよかけておひさかゆらん

    かみがきのちもとのまつのふかみどりいくよよかけておいさかゆらん

  • 770
  • Notes
  • A beautiful makeup box...

    Who, over the two worlds

    dreams of our peace

    his grace spreading far and wide—

    the sacred Buddha.

    玉くしげ

    ふたよをかけて

    安かれと

    めぐみあまねき

    御佛ぞこれ

    Tamakushige

    futayo wo kake te

    yasukare to

    megumi amaneki

    mihotoke zo kore.

    たまくしけふたよをかけてやすかれとめくみあまねきみほとけそこれ

    たまくしげふたよをかけてやすかれとめぐみあまねきみほとけぞこれ

  • 771
  • NotesThe title from the Complete Works of Otagaki Rengetsu (1927) is “Buddha's Light” (法灯).
  • The fire

    I thought

    so distant

    is the light

    illuminating my mind.

    はるけしと

    おもひし法の

    ともしびは

    心をてらす

    光りなりけり

    Harukeshi to

    omoi shi nori no

    tomoshibi wa

    kokoro wo terasu

    hikari nari keri.

    はるけしとおもひしのりのともしひはこころをてらすひかりなりけり

    はるけしとおもいしのりのともしびはこころをてらすひかりなりけり

  • 772
  • NotesThis poem has a variant form (found on a tanzaku), in which the first line is ちりほどの (Chiri hodo no) instead of the standard ちりばかり (Chiri bakari), and the fifth line is いりあひのそら (iriai no sora) instead of the standard ゆふぐれのそら (yuugure no sora). The meaning remains the same.
  • Not even a cloud

    small as a mite of dust

    upon my heart―

    today I wane

    with the sky at dusk.

    ちりほどの

    心にかかる

    雲もなし

    けふをかぎりの

    夕ぐれのそら

    Chiri hodo no

    kokoro ni kakaru

    kumo mo nashi

    kyou wo kagiri no

    yuugure no sora.

    ちりほとのこころにかかるくももなしけふをかきりのゆふくれのそら

    ちりほどのこころにかかるくももなしきょうをかぎりのゆうぐれのそら

  • 773
  • Notes
  • My hope

    finding a way

    to behold

    the cloudless moon

    upon a lotus blossom in the next world.

    ねがはくは

    のちの蓮の

    花のうへに

    くもらぬ月を

    みるよしもがな

    Negawaku wa

    nochi no hachisu no

    hana no ue ni

    kumora nu tsuki wo

    miru yoshi moga na.

    ねかはくはのちのはちすのはなのうへにくもらぬつきをみるよしもかな

    ねがわくはのちのはちすのはなのうえにくもらぬつきをみるよしもがな

  • 774
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “When Emperor Ninkou (Ninkou Tennou 仁孝天皇) Passed Away.” The date of that event was the 21st day of the second month of 1817, spring according to the old lunar calendar. Upon the clouds refers to the imperial palace (Gosho).
  • Who could expect

    this would happen

    upon the clouds?

    On this spring night...

    a floating bridge of dreams.

    雲のうへに

    かかるべしとは

    おもひきや

    このはるのよの

    ゆめの浮橋

    Kumo no ue ni

    kakaru beshi to wa

    omoi ki ya

    ko no haru no yo no

    yume no ukihashi.

    くものうへにかかるへしとはおもひきやこのはるのよのゆめのうきはし

    くものうえにかかるべしとはおもいきやこのはるのよのゆめのうきはし

  • 775
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “Shocked to hear that Mutobe Yoshika had died, I couldn't stop my tears turning over my memories of him these years...” Mutobe Yoshika (六人部是香 / 1806~1863), a noted Shinto priest and scholar, was one of Rengetsu's waka teachers.
  • Plucking

    grasses of “waka”

    you shared

    as keepsakes...

    ah, dewdrops falling upon my sleeves.

    教へおきし

    言のはぐさを

    形見にて

    つめば袂に

    つゆぞこぼるる

    Oshie oki shi

    kotonoha gusa wo

    katami ni te

    tsume ba tamoto ni

    tsuyu zo koboruru.

    をしへおきしことのはくさをかたみにてつめはたもとにつゆそこほるる

    おしえおきしことのはぐさをかたみにてつめばたもとにつゆぞこぼるる

  • 776
  • Notes
  • His face and figure

    still there as they were...

    the dawn moon...

    a remnant of sorrow does not fade

    ah, wet sleeves...

    おもかげは

    猶さながらに

    有明の

    つきぬなごりに

    ぬるる袖かな

    Omokage wa

    nao sanagara ni

    ariake no

    tsuki nu nagori ni

    nururu sode kana.

    おもかけはなほさなからにありあけのつきぬなこりにぬるるそてかな

    おもかげはなおさながらにありあけのつきぬなごりにぬるるそでかな

  • 777
  • Notes
  • Again and again

    running many beads

    through my fingers

    I light upon memories one after another

    and cannot help weeping.

    くりかへし

    手なれし玉の

    かずかずに

    思ひつらねて

    ねこそなかるれ

    Kuri kaeshi

    tenare shi tama no

    kazukazu ni

    omoi tsurane te

    ne koso naka rure.

    くりかへしてなれしたまのかすかすにおもひつらねてねこそなかるれ

    くりかえしてなれしたまのかずかずにおもいつらねてねこそなかるれ

  • 778
  • NotesThe man referred to in this poem is Wada Gozan (1800~1870) abbot of Jinko'in (Temple of Heavenly Light) in the Nishigamo district of northwestern Kyoto, where Rengetsu lived the last ten years of her life (1865~1875). The floating cloud refers to Rengetsu herself.
  • A floating cloud

    which, until today

    has outlived him...

    on which evening

    will it disappear?

    けふまでも

    立ち後れたる

    浮雲の

    きゆるやいつの

    夕べなるらん

    Kyou made mo

    tachi okure taru

    ukigumo no

    kiyuru ya itsu no

    yuube naru ran.

    けふまてもたちおくれたるうきくものきゆるやいつのゆふへなるらん

    きょうまでもたちおくれたるうきぐものきゆるやいつのゆうべなるらん

  • 779
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “A year since Priest Gesshin died...” Gesshin (Moon Mind) is a Buddhist for Wada Gozan (1800~1870), who was the abbot of the Jinko'in (Temple of Heavenly Light) during the first half of Rengetsu's stay during the last ten years of her life (1865~1875). In Japanese folklore, Unakami Bay said to be located in what is now Chiba prefecture.
  • You passed away...

    the autumn wind

    of Unakami Bay

    pierces my body with cold

    while on my sleeves, falling tears...

    君なくて

    うなかみがたの

    秋の風

    みにしむ袖に

    ちるなみだかな

    Kimi naku te

    Unakamigata no

    aki no kaze

    mi ni shimu sode ni

    chiru namida kana.

    きみなくてうなかみかたのあきのかせみにしむそてにちるなみたかな

    きみなくてうなかみがたのあきのかぜみにしむそでにちるなみだかな

  • 780
  • Notes
  • Deep in the mist separating us

    from the year since he passed

    his face and figure

    faintly lingering...

    ah, the morning moon.

    一年を

    へだつるきりの

    そこはかと

    おもかげばかり

    有明の月

    Hitotose wo

    hedatsuru kiri no

    sokohaka to

    omokage bakari

    ariake no tsuki.

    ひととせをへたつるきりのそこはかとおもかけはかりありあけのつき

    ひととせをへだつるきりのそこはかとおもかげばかりありあけのつき


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