Category: Poetry
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The Fulling of Cloth: Poem 94
Although not a well-known poem in the Hyakunin Isshu, I rather like this one for some reason: Japanese Romanization Translation みよし野の Miyoshino Fair Yoshino, 山の秋風 Yama no aki-kaze the autumn wind in its mountains さよふけて Sayo fukete deepens the night and ふるさとさむく Furusato samuku in the former capitol, cold 衣うつなり Koromo utsu nari I hear…
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Even At Low Tide: Poem 92
Another poem dedicated to those who were lonely for Valentine’s Day recently: Japanese Romanization Translation わが袖は Wa ga sode wa My sleeves are like 潮干に見えぬ Shiohi ni mienu the rock in the offing that 沖の石の Oki no ishi no can’t be seen even at low tide, 人こそしらね Hito koso shirane unknown to anyone, but かはくまもなし…
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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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New Blog Page
Hello, I’ve been making small updates to the blog apart from the poems themselves. The main change is that I’ve added a new “page” that talks about the history of Imperial poetry anthologies. Poetry collections were very popular in the “classical age” of Japanese history, when Court nobles cultivated the finer arts and wrote lots…
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Autumn Mist and Rain: Poem 87
It’s been a while, but I wanted to start off with a nice, descriptive poem: Japanese Romanization Translation むらさめの Murasame no While the raindrops of 露もまだひぬ Tsuyu mo mada hinu the passing shower have not yet dried from まきの葉に Maki no ha ni near the leaves of the evergreens, 霧立ちのぼる Kiri tachinoboru the mist is…
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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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The Plovers’ Cry: Poem Number 78
As the weather gets colder, I’ve been saving this one for a time like this: Japanese Romanization Translation 淡路島 Awaji shima The crying voices かよふ千鳥の Kayou chidori no of the plovers who visit なく声に Naku koe ni from Awaji Island— いくよねざめぬ Ikuyo nezamenu how many nights have they awakened him, すまの関守 Suma no sekimori the…
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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…
The Hyakunin Isshu 