Category: Love
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Burning with Longing: Poem 97
At last, faithful readers, we come to the final poem of the Hyakunin Isshu, composed by the anthology’s compiler himself! Japanese Romanization Translation こぬ人を Konu hito wo For the man who doesn’t come まつほの浦の Matsuo no ura no I wait at the Bay of Matsuo— 夕なぎに Yunagi ni in the evening calm やくやもしほの Yaku ya…
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A Cold Mat: Poem 91
A fitting poem for winter and those who somehow missed out on Valentine’s Day recently: Japanese Romanization Translation きりぎりす Kirigirisu When the crickets 鳴くや霜夜の Naku ya shimoyo no cry in the frosty night, さむしろに Sa mushiro ni on the cold reed-mat, 衣かたしき Koromo katashiki spreading out my robe just for one, ひとりかも寝む Hitori kamo nen…
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Fisherwomen’s Sleeves: Poem Number 90
This poem is a clever variation on the “sleeves wet with tears” poems we often see in the Hyakunin Isshu: Japanese Romanization Translation 見せばやな Misebaya na How I’d like to show him! 雄島のあまの Ojima no ama no The sleeves of the fishermen 袖だにも Sode dani mo of Male Island ぬれにぞぬれし Nure ni zo nureshi when…
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Short As A Reed: Poem Number 88
If you like word-play, you’ll enjoy this poem quite a bit: Japanese Romanization Translation 難波江の Naniwa-e no Due to that single night 芦のかりねの Ashi no karine no of fitful sleep, short as a reed’s joint cut at the root 一夜ゆへ Hitoyo yue from Naniwa Bay, 身をつくしてや Mi wo tsukushite ya am I to exhaust myself,…
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Sleepless Nights: Poem Number 85
Whereas the last love poem expressed love and anxiety after a first-meeting, this poem is quite a different story: Japanese Romanization Translation 夜もすがら Yo mo sugara All through the night 物思ふ頃は Mono omou koro wa recently, as I dwell on things, 明けやらぬ Ake yaranu even the gap between the doors ねやのひまさへ Neya no hima sae…
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Disheleved: Poem Number 80
A clever morning-after love poem that I felt was fun to share: Japanese Romanization Translation 長からむ Nagakaran I do not even know 心もしらず Kokoro mo shirazu how long your feelings will last. 黒髪の Kurokami no My long black hair みだれてけさは Midarete kesa wa is all disheveled and, this morning, 物をこそ思へ Mono wo koso omoe my…
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Lamentations: Poem Number 86
Another Autumn moon poem, but with an interesting twist: Japanese Romanization Translation なげけとて Nageke tote “Lament!” does it say? 月やは物を Tsuki ya wa mono wo Is it the moon that makes me 思はする Omowasuru dwell on things? —No, and yet, かこちがほなる Kakochi gao naru look at the tears flowing down わがなみだかな Waga nami dakana my…
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Backfired: Poem Number 74
Even the Hyakunin Isshu has its comedic moments: Japanese Romanization Translation うかりける Ukarikeru “Make that heartless 人をはつせの Hito wo hatsuse no woman, O mountain storm 山おろしよ Yama oroshiyo of Hatsuse Temple— はげしかれとは Hageshikareto wa crueller still!”—this is not 祈らぬものを Inoranu mono wo what I prayed for, and yet… Translation by Dr Joshua Mostow The author…
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Catch Me If You Can: Poem Number 72
This is a more light-hearted poem in contrast to the previous one: Japanese Romanization Translation 音にきく Oto ni kiku Known far and wide, 高師の浜の Takashi no hama no the unpredictable waves あだ浪は Adanami wa of Takashi’s beach— かけじや袖の Kakeji ya sode no I will not let them catch me— ぬれもこそすれ Nure mo koso sure For…
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Thanks, But No Thanks: Poem Number 67
This clever little poem shows the battle of the sexes as it existed 1,000 years ago: Japanese Romanization Translation 春の夜の Haru no yoru no With your arm as my pillow 夢ばかりなる Yume bakari naru for no more than a brief 手枕に Tamakura ni spring night’s dream, かひなく立たむ Kainaku tatan how I would regret my name…
The Hyakunin Isshu 