Last | Poems 811~840 (of 951) | Next

English   日本語   Romaji
  • 811
  • Notes
  • In a thicket of bamboo

    each joint

    a thousand years of life...

    let us sing

    as we count them up!

    むら竹の

    そのふしごとに

    千代こめて

    のぶるよはひの

    かずによみなん

    Muratake no

    so no fushi goto ni

    chiyo kome te

    noburu yowai no

    kazu ni yomi na n.

    むらたけのそのふしことにちよこめてのふるよはひのかすによみなん

    むらたけのそのふしごとにちよこめてのぶるよわいのかずによみなん

  • 812
  • Notes
  • Passing my 60th year

    I return, born again

    parting the thick spring mist

    a rustic hut

    for a thousand years.

    むそぢへて

    一つにかへる

    春霞

    はるかにわけん

    千代のふる道

    Musoji he te

    hitotsu ni kaeru

    harugasumi

    harukani wake n

    chiyo no furumichi.

    むそちへてひとつにかへるはるかすみはるかにわけんちよのふるみち

    むそじへてひとつにかえるはるがすみはるかにわけんちよのふるみち

  • 813
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “I sent this to one who turned seventy...”
  • The age of seventy

    is still a pair

    of young sprouting needles...

    like a pine you shall reach

    the far edge of a thousand years.

    七十は

    まだ若ばえの

    ふたばにて

    末のちとせを

    まつぞ久しき

    Nanasoji wa

    mada wakabae no

    futaba ni te

    sue no chitose wo

    matsu zo hisashiki.

    ななそちはまたわかはえのふたはにてすゑのちとせをまつそひさしき

    ななそじはまだわかばえのふたばにてすえのちとせをまつぞひさしき

  • 814
  • NotesThe title reads: “A Celebration at the Age of Eighty.”
  • You will live

    many generations...

    ah, a bow of catalpa wood...

    taking eighty as its lower arc—

    the beginning of a long future.

    末ながき

    よよやへぬらん

    梓弓

    やそぢをちよの

    もとはずにして

    Sue nagaki

    yoyo ya he nu ran

    azusayumi

    yasoji wo chiyo no

    motohazu ni shi te.

    すゑなかきよよやへぬらんあつさゆみやそちをちよのもとはすにして

    すえながきよよやへぬらんあずさゆみやそじをちよのもとはずにして

  • 815
  • NotesThe title reads: “A Celebration at the Age of Eighty-eight.”
  • I pray you pile up

    abundant years

    in spans of eighty-eight

    so they seem a mountain

    tall enough for clouds to rest upon...

    雲のゐる

    山とみるまで

    とよとしの

    よねのよはひを

    つみかさねませ

    Kumo no iru

    yama to miru made

    toyotoshi no

    yone no yowai wo

    tsumi kasane mase.

    くものゐるやまとみるまてとよとしのよねのよはひをつみかさねませ

    くものいるやまとみるまでとよとしのよねのよわいをつみかさねませ

  • 816
  • NotesThe title reads: “A Celebration with a Crane.”
  • The ages

    you shall live

    are as great in number

    as the young cranes

    nesting in the evergreen pines.

    ときはなる

    松にすごもる

    鶴の子の

    千代のかずかず

    君ぞかぞへん

    Tokiwa naru

    matsu ni sugomoru

    tsuru no ko no

    chiyo no kazukazu

    kimi zo kazoe n.

    ときはなるまつにすこもるつるのこのちよのかすかすきみそかそへん

    ときわなるまつにすごもるつるのこのちよのかずかずきみぞかぞえん

  • 817
  • NotesThe title reads: “A Celebration for a Pine.”
  • Taking as unimportant

    the springs and autumns

    of this fleeting world...

    such an ever-green

    mountain person you are!

    うつせみの

    世の春秋を

    よそにして

    とはのみどりの

    山人やきみ

    Utsusemi no

    yo no haruaki wo

    yoso ni shi te

    towa no midori no

    yamahito ya kimi.

    うつせみのよのはるあきをよそにしてとはのみとりのやまひとやきみ

    うつせみのよのはるあきをよそにしてとわのみどりのやまひとやきみ

  • 818
  • Notes“Princess pines” is a literary term of endearment used to liken the diminutive size and touching beauty of small pine trees to those of a princess. There is an alternate English translation that differs in the division of the lines: Every year / refreshing their youth... / how long / have they lived in the world? / Princess pines on the shores of Suminoe.
  • Yearly refreshing their youth...

    how long have they

    lived in the world?

    Princess pines

    on the shores of Suminoe.

    としごとに

    若がへりつつ

    いく千代か

    世にすみのえの

    きしの姫松

    Toshigoto ni

    wakagaeri tsutsu

    iku chiyo ka

    yo ni Suminoe no

    kishi no himematsu.

    としことにわかかへりつついくちよかよにすみのえのきしのひめまつ

    としごとにわかがえりつついくちよかよにすみのえのきしのひめまつ

  • 819
  • NotesThe title reads: “A Celebration with Bamboo”
  • Ah, this vast land

    roots of young bamboo

    spreading beneath...

    perfectly formed segments

    on the middle path of this imperial reign.

    若竹の

    ねざしひろごる

    國原や

    なほくふしある

    御代のなかみち

    Wakatake no

    nezashi hirogoru

    kunihara ya

    naoku fushi aru

    miyo no nakamichi.

    わかたけのねさしひろこるくにはらやなほくふしあるみよのなかみち

    わかたけのねざしひろごるくにはらやなおくふしあるみよのなかみち

  • 820
  • NotesThe title is “A Celebration, Using Bamboo [in a poem].”
  • For abundance and honor

    in the years to come...

    born

    with two roots―

    the bamboo of the house.

    ゆく末の

    とみとたときを

    二本に

    生いでけりな

    やどの若竹

    Yukusue no

    tomi to tatoki wo

    futamoto ni

    oi ide keri na

    yado no wakatake.

    ゆくすゑのとみとたときをふたもとにおいいてけりなやとのわかたけ

    ゆくすえのとみとたときをふたもとにおいいでけりなやどのわかたけ

  • 821
  • NotesIn this poem “wakabae” (usually a bud, but in this case, a new branch / 若生え) is a symbol for a new baby.
  • Plum branches

    freshly sprouted this year...

    for an eon

    their blossoms and fruit

    shall perfume the world.

    今年生の

    うめの若ばえ

    ちよかけて

    花さへみさへ

    香に匂ふらん

    Kotoshioi no

    ume no wakabae

    chiyo kake te

    hana sae mi sae

    ka ni niou ran.

    ことしおひのうめのわかはえちよかけてはなさへみさへかににほふらん

    ことしおいのうめのわかばえちよかけてはなさえみさえかににおうらん

  • 822
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “An inscription for a painting of pine, bamboo and plum for a person from Naniwa.” Pine, bamboo and plum (Shou-chiku-bai, 松竹梅) are a set of aesthetic elements that symbolize long life, abundance and well being. Likewise Mitsu Bay, one of the port sections of old Naniwa (浪花 present-day Osaka), symbolized an abundance of things coming from afar.
  • Befitting the name

    of Mitsu Bay in Naniwa

    people

    peacefully gathering

    many thousands of years of life.

    里の名の

    なにはのみつの

    うらやすく

    千代のかずかず

    とりよそひつつ

    Sato no na no

    Naniwa no Mitsu no

    urayasuku

    chiyo no kazukazu

    tori yosoi tsutsu.

    さとのなのなにはのみつのうらやすくちよのかすかすとりよそひつつ

    さとのなのなにわのみつのうらやすくちよのかずかずとりよそいつつ

  • 823
  • NotesThe title reads: “A Celebration with a Drum.” The drum referred to in this poem is the drum of reproof / counsel (isame no tsuzumi / 諌めのつづみ) was a symbol of responsive goverment. In ancient China, one was placed at court. Citizens could beat the drum and state their grievances with or offer counsel to the government.
  • Ah, the protest drum...

    even the wind from

    the moss-covered past

    cannot reach the height

    of this imperial reign.

    君が代は

    いさめのつづみ

    苔のむす

    むかしの風も

    およばざりけり

    Kimi ga yo wa

    isame no tsuzumi

    koke no musu

    mukashi no kaze mo

    oyoba zari keri.

    きみかよはいさめのつつみこけのむすむかしのかせもおよはさりけり

    きみがよはいさめのつづみこけのむすむかしのかぜもおよばざりけり

  • 824
  • Notes
  • Our sovereign, peerless―

    his name reaches

    the high clouds

    enfolding

    the green peak of Mt. Fuji.

    君がよの

    たぐひなりけり

    その名さへ

    くもゐにたかき

    ふじの芝山

    Kimi ga yo no

    tagui nari keri

    so no na sae

    kumoi ni takaki

    Fuji no shibayama.

    きみかよのたくひなりけりそのなさへくもゐにたかきふしのしはやま

    きみがよのたぐいなりけりそのなさえくもいにたかきふじのしばやま

  • 825
  • NotesThe title reads: “A Celebration of the Way.”
  • The light of “waka”

    which spreads

    the blessings of Japan

    in all four directions—

    how splendid!

    日の本の

    めぐみをよもに

    敷島の

    道のひかりぞ

    いやあきらけき

    Hinomoto no

    megumi wo yomo ni

    shikishima no

    michi no hikari zo

    iya akirakeki.

    ひのもとのめくみをよもにしきしまのみちのひかりそいやあきらけき

    ひのもとのめぐみをよもにしきしまのみちのひかりぞいやあきらけき

  • 826
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “I hear that in the morning of the nineteenth day of the second month, Mr. Ooshio, who was famous as a great scholar of youmeigaku (I wonder if he misunderstood something) suddenly fomented a military rebelion. It felt threatening despite the distance.” She is refering to the rebel general Ooshio Heihachirou. Youmeigaku (陽明学) is the study of neo-Confucianism taught by Wang Yangming (王陽明, 1472–1529), also known as Bo'an (伯安) and his followers.
  • The bay shining...

    they came

    like a spring tide

    to the village of Naniwa

    streaming banners

    of white cloth

    wearing headpieces

    shaped like hoes...

    like fireflies

    sparking and torching

    things all about

    they set the village smoking...

    in the blink of an eye

    a thousand blocks

    of standing houses

    became a meadow...

    How could he

    be so mistaken

    and foment

    such violence?

    When

    the boom of raw metal

    spread

    across the land

    like falling thunder

    the village people

    unexpectedly discarded

    jewels and gold

    they could not carry

    spurring on the elderly

    children in their arms

    or on their backs

    wandering

    day and night

    their crying voices

    spreading over

    the burning seaweed—

    how miserable!

    After a few days

    on the third night

    around the hour of the rat

    where did he go?

    Whether the receding tide

    was a dream

    or reality

    no one could tell...

    Listening from a distance

    my heart nearly stopped...

    this single

    nonsensical

    emotional error...

    a mistake

    that shall be condemned

    in the future―

    what a terrible act!

    おしてるや

    なにはの里に

    おほしほの

    みちくるがごと

    しらぎぬの

    はたたてなびけ

    くはがたの

    かぶとうちきて

    ほたるなす

    ひばなをちらし

    やきめぐり

    くゆしめぐれば

    いくちまち

    つづくいへゐも

    ときのまに

    のらとなしつる

    いかさまに

    おもひたがへて

    かくはしも

    あらびたりけん

    さとびとは

    おもひもかけず

    いかづちの

    おつるがごとく

    あらがねの

    つちにひびけば

    みにそはぬ

    たまもこがねも

    うちすてて

    おいをいざなひ

    おさなごを

    いだきつおひつ

    ただよひて

    よるひるわかず

    なきさけぶ

    こゑはたくもに

    うちひびき

    あはれなりしも

    みかふつか

    みよといふよの

    ねばかりに

    いづちいにけん

    ひくしほの

    いめとやいはん

    うつつとは

    おもひもあへず

    よそにきく

    こころもきえぬ

    あさましき

    ひとつごころの

    たがひより

    すゑの世までの

    ことぐさに

    いひくたされん

    おぞのわざかも

    Oshiteru ya

    naniwa no sato ni

    ooshio no

    michi kuru ga goto

    shiraginu no

    hata tate nabike

    kuwagata no

    kabuto uchi ki te

    hotaru nasu

    hibana wo chirashi

    yaki meguri

    kuyu shi megure ba

    iku chimachi

    tsuzuku iei mo

    toki no ma ni

    nora to nashi tsuru

    ikasama ni

    omoi tagae te

    kaku wa shi mo

    arabi tari ken

    satobito wa

    omoi mo kake zu

    ikazuchi no

    otsuru ga gotoku

    aragane no

    tsuchi ni hibike ba

    mi ni sowa nu

    tama mo kogane mo

    uchi sute te

    oi wo izanai

    osanago wo

    idaki tsu oi tsu

    tadayoi te

    yoru hiru wakazu

    naki sakebu

    koe wa takumo ni

    uchi hibiki

    aware nari shi mo

    mika futsuka

    miyo to iu yo no

    ne bakari ni

    izuchi i ni ken

    hiku shio no

    ime to ya iwa n

    utsutsu to wa

    omoi mo ae zu

    yoso ni kiku

    kokoro mo kie nu

    asamashiki

    hitotsugokoro no

    tagai yori

    suenoyo made no

    kotogusa ni

    ii kutasa re n

    ozo no waza kamo.

    おしてるや なにはのさとに おほしほの みちくるかこと しらきぬの はたたてなひけ
    くはかたの かふとうちきて ほたるなす ひはなをちらし やきめくり くゆしめくれは
    いくちまち つつくいへゐも ときのまに のらとなしつる いかさまに おもひたかへて
    かくはしも あらひたりけん さとひとは おもひもかけす いかつちの おつるかことく
    あらかねの つちにひひけは みにそはぬ たまもこかねも うちすてて おいをいさなひ
    おさなこを いたきつおひつ たたよひて よるひるわかす なきさけふ こゑはたくもに
    うちひひき あはれなりしも みかふつか みよといふよの ねはかりに いつちいにけん
    ひくしほの いめとやいはん うつつとは おもひもあへす よそにきく こころもきえぬ
    あさましき ひとつこころの たかひより すゑのよまての ことくさに いひくたされん
    おそのわさかも

    おしてるや なにわのさとに おおしおの みちくるがごと しらぎぬの はたたてなびけ
    くわがたの かぶとうちきて ほたるなす ひばなをちらし やきめぐり くゆしめぐれば
    いくちまち つづくいえいも ときのまに のらとなしつる いかさまに おもいたがえて
    かくはしも あらびたりけん さとびとは おもいもかけず いかずちの おつるがごとく
    あらがねの つちにひびけば みにそわぬ たまもこがねも うちすてて おいをいざない
    おさなごを いだきつおいつ ただよいて よるひるわかず なきさけぶ こえはたくもに
    うちひびき あわれなりしも みかふつか みよというよの ねばかりに いずちいにけん
    ひくしおの いめとやいわん うつつとは おもいもあえず よそにきく こころもきえぬ
    あさましき ひとつごころの たがいより すえのよまでの ことぐさに いいくたされん
    おぞのわざかも

  • 827
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “...” This waka is the first of a set of three poems, along with another waka and a long poem (chouka / 長歌) on the Rebellion of Haihachirou (Ooshio Heihachirou no ran / 大塩平八郎の乱).
  • The whereabouts

    of the once rough tide

    no one knows...

    like a white wave

    did it leave Japan and disappear?

    荒かりし

    しほのゆくへは

    しらなみの

    八島のそとに

    たちやきえけん

    Arakari shi

    shio no yukue wa

    shiranami no

    Yashima no soto ni

    tachi ya kie ken.

    あらかりししほのゆくへはしらなみのやしまのそとにたちやきえけん

    あらかりししおのゆくえはしらなみのやしまのそとにたちやきえけん

  • 828
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “After a month, no one yet knew where he was. The government ordered many warriors to seek him out in all the corners of world, but he wasn't found. People felt uneasy and talked about the situation all day. Normally I detested wind only when it blew down cherry blossoms, but at that moment, I was uneasy, since its sound reminded me (was like) of (the) guns which had been going off). In this state of affairs, when spring was ending... though I don't know how he managed... I heard that he lived in Naniwa, hiding, and (so, I composed this poem)...” This waka is the first of a set of three poems, along with another waka and a long poem (chouka / 長歌) on the Rebellion of Haihachirou (Ooshio Heihachirou no ran / 大塩平八郎の乱). Miotsukushi (澪標) was the name of an area in Naniwa (難波), the fishing village that grew into present-day Osaka.
  • In Miotsukushi

    not sacrificing

    but hiding in the reeds

    of Naniwa Bay—

    how can you live this way?

    みをつくし

    身をもつくさで

    浪花江の

    あしまがくれに

    住みけるやなぞ

    Miotsukushi

    mi wo mo tsukusa de

    Naniwae no

    ashima gakure ni

    sumi keru ya nazo.

    みをつくしみをもつくさてなにはえのあしまかくれにすみけるやなそ

    みおつくしみをもつくさでなにわえのあしまがくれにすみけるやなぞ

  • 829
  • Notes
  • Ah, a friend

    of one who lives apart...

    ignoring Miyako

    deep in the mountains—

    a warbler at my window.

    のがれすむ

    みのともなりや

    都邊を

    よそにみやまの

    まどの鶯

    Nogare sumu

    mi no tomo nari ya

    miyakobe wo

    yoso ni miyama no

    mado no uguisu.

    のかれすむみのともなりやみやこへをよそにみやまのまとのうくひす

    のがれすむみのともなりやみやこべをよそにみやまのまどのうぐいす

  • 830
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “When I saw the cherry blossoms in a gale falling too early...” This poem contains a double entendre of saga (usual /性) and the Saga area (嵯峨), a scenic spot in Northwestern Kyoto, indicating that the mountain Rengetsu refers to here is Mount Arashi (嵐山), literally storm mountain.
  • Having not yet bloomed

    I see them fall at Saga...

    ah, the usual bitterness

    of the world

    embodied in the name of the mountain.

    咲もあへず

    かつちるみれば

    よのさがの

    つらきは山の

    名にこそ有けれ

    Saki mo ae zu

    katsu chiru mire ba

    yo no saga no

    tsuraki wa yama no

    na ni koso ari kere.

    さきもあへすかつちるみれはよのさかのつらきはやまのなにこそありけれ

    さきもあえずかつちるみればよのさがのつらきはやまのなにこそありけれ

  • 831
  • Notes
  • Everyone knows

    even in the next world

    we will enjoy them—

    cherry blossoms

    our only hook.

    たれもしる

    のちのよかけて

    めでなまし

    さくらばかりを

    ほだしにはして

    Tare mo shiru

    nochi no yo kake te

    mede na mashi

    sakura bakari wo

    hodashi ni wa shi te.

    たれもしるのちのよかけてめてなましさくらはかりをほたしにはして

    たれもしるのちのよかけてめでなましさくらばかりをほだしにはして

  • 832
  • Notes
  • I imagine

    a little cuckoo

    wouldl not pass

    my blooming hedge of deutzias

    without dropping in.

    うの花の

    匂ふ垣ねは

    時鳥

    さしもただには

    過じとぞ思ふ

    Unohana no

    niou kakine wa

    hototogisu

    sa shi mo tada ni wa

    sugi ji to zo omou.

    うのはなのにほふかきねはほとときすさしもたたにはすきしとそおもふ

    うのはなのにおうかきねはほととぎすさしもただにはすぎじとぞおもう

  • 833
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “For a Voice Answering Back.”
  • The moment I hear it

    how familiar

    this little cuckoo is—

    the melody of

    that most wonderful voice.

    きくからに

    うらなつかしき

    ほととぎす

    一ふし高き

    聲のしらべを

    Kiku kara ni

    ura natsukashiki

    hototogisu

    hitofushi takaki

    koe no shirabe wo.

    きくからにうらなつかしきほとときすひとふしたかきこゑのしらへを

    きくからにうらなつかしきほととぎすひとふしたかきこえのしらべを

  • 834
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “In a reply [to your news] '...staying in Izu.'” This poem is from a letter to Nishimura Aritoshi. Sano (佐野) refers to an area In Izu (伊豆), modern-day Shizuoka Prefecture (静岡県).
  • A little cuckoo

    all about Sano

    chirping beneath the moon...

    I wonder how agreeable it is

    to sleep while traveling...

    月になく

    さののわたりの

    時鳥

    いかにたびねの

    あはれなりけん

    Tsuki ni naku

    Sano no watari no

    hototogisu

    ikani tabine no

    aware nari ken.

    つきになくさののわたりのほとときすいかにたひねのあはれなりけん

    つきになくさののわたりのほととぎすいかにたびねのあわれなりけん

  • 835
  • NotesThe holy water (aka / 閼伽) in this poem is for offering in a bowl to the Buddha.
  • At a mountain temple

    a frog deep

    in a well of holy water

    his faint croaking sad

    this rainy evening.

    山寺の

    あか井のかはづ

    そこはかと

    なくねさびしき

    雨の夕ぐれ

    Yamadera no

    akai no kawazu

    sokohaka to

    naku ne sabishiki

    ame no yuugure.

    やまてらのあかゐのかはつそこはかとなくねさひしきあめのゆふくれ

    やまでらのあかいのかわずそこはかとなくねさびしきあめのゆうぐれ

  • 836
  • NotesRengetsu means the drops of the water she splashed on the grass (while impatiently awaiting the dew) provided a place for the figure of the moon to rest.
  • Before the dew...

    in the summer grasses

    I splashed with water

    what quickly took up lodging—

    the figure of the evening moon.

    露またで

    みづそそがせし

    夏草に

    やがてやどれる

    夕月の影

    Tsuyu mata de

    mizu sosoga se shi

    natsukusa ni

    yagate yadore ru

    yuuzuki no kage.

    つゆまたてみつそそかせしなつくさにやかてやとれるゆふつきのかけ

    つゆまたでみずそそがせしなつくさにやがてやどれるゆうづきのかげ

  • 837
  • Notes
  • Gazing upon

    the wheeling

    unchanging moon...

    in a world which does not settle

    neither shall I settle in my hut.

    行めぐり

    かはらぬ月を

    ながめつつ

    さだめなきよに

    やどもさだめず

    Yuki meguri

    kawara nu tsuki wo

    nagame tsutsu

    sadame naki yo ni

    yado mo sadame zu.

    ゆきめくりかはらぬつきをなかめつつさためなきよにやともさためす

    ゆきめぐりかわらぬつきをながめつつさだめなきよにやどもさだめず

  • 838
  • Notes
  • On Mount Yoshida

    behind the tips of the pines

    the moon has fallen—

    in Kitashirakawa

    the sound of a temple bell.

    よしだ山

    松のこずゑに

    月落て

    きたしら川の

    かねの音かな

    Yoshidayama

    matsu no kozue ni

    tsuki ochi te

    Kitashirakawa no

    kane no oto kana.

    よしたやままつのこすゑにつきおちてきたしらかはのかねのおとかな

    よしだやままつのこずえにつきおちてきたしらかわのかねのおとかな

  • 839
  • Notes
  • A traveler

    seeming in a hurry

    to cross the long bridge at Seta―

    Miyako close...

    the sun setting.

    旅人や

    せたのながはし

    いそぐらん

    都はちかし

    日はかたぶきぬ

    Tabibito ya

    Seta no nagahashi

    isogu ran

    miyako wa chikashi

    hi wa katabuki nu.

    たひひとやせたのなかはしいそくらんみやこはちかしひはかたふきぬ

    たびびとやせたのながはしいそぐらんみやこはちかしひはかたぶきぬ

  • 840
  • NotesThe prologue reads: “I heard that Mr. Murakami was appointed to a guard at the Saga entrance...” Rengetsu is referring to Murakami Tadamasa, 村上忠順 (1812-1884). The Saga Gate (嵯峨口) was one of the western entrances to Miyako (present-day Kyoto).
  • At Mount Saga

    you shall see

    figures of cherry blossoms

    at their peak

    after waiting for the snow.

    さがの山

    花のさかりの

    おもかげは

    雪まちつけて

    みそなはすらん

    Saga no yama

    hana no sakari no

    omokage wa

    yuki machi tsuke te

    misonawasu ran.

    さかのやまはなのさかりのおもかけはゆきまちつけてみそなはすらん

    さがのやまはなのさかりのおもかげはゆきまちつけてみそなわすらん


    Last | Poems 811~840 (of 951) | Next