Left (Win) 秋のよの月のひかりはかはらねどたびのそらこそあはれなりけれ On an autumn night The moon’s light Is unchanged, yet The sky above me on my travels Is so very sad, indeed. Lord Saburō Eien narabō uta'awase 31

Composed on the conception of waiting for love. さむしろにひとりむなしく年もへぬよるの衣のすそあはずして With a scanty coverlet Unwillingly alone Through the passing years With night-robes’ Hems never meeting… Kinkai wakashū 514 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

The Moon Left (Win) いたまよりねざめのとこにもる月をこひしきひととおもはましかば Between the boards, Waking me in my bed Drips moonlight— The man I love If only it did more than bring to mind… Lord Dainagon Eien narabō uta'awase 29

On waiting for love through the years, when folk had composed poetry. 故郷のあさぢが露にむすぼほれひとりなく虫の人をうらむる At this ancient estate The cogon grass by dew Is held fast, as All alone a single insect cries, Hating that man… Kinkai wakashū 513 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

As a love poem おもふよりみしよりむねにたく恋をけふうちつけにもゆるとやしる Since I have yearned, Since I have seen him, within my breast Kindled fires of love Today, suddenly, Have burst into flame—I wonder if he knows? Princess Shokushi Gyokuyōshū IX: 1256 #wakapoem #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌 #valentinesday

As a love poem 人しれぬ心のうちのかねごとをむなしくなさぬ行末もがな Within my secret hidden Heart I My promise: No fleeting Future for us let there be! Supernumerary Middle Counsellor Nagakata Gyokuyōshū XI: 1255 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌 #valentinesday

Within a hundred poem sequence 津のくにのうらのはつしまはつかにも見なくに人の恋しきやなぞ In the land of Tsu lies Ura no Hatsushima— Faintly Only did I see her, yet How deep is my love! Imperial Prince Masanari Gyokuyōshū IX: 1254 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌 #valentinesday

When there was something on his mind, he went to Inari Shrine and composed this. 人しれぬこころただすの神ならばおもふ心をそらにしらなむ Able my secret unknown Heart to reveal— Were you such a god, then Its yearning Would echo through the skies… Consultant Takamura Gyokuyōshū IX: 1253 #valentinesday

Topic unknown そのことといはぬ涙のわびしきはただにたもとのぬるるなりけり Of that I’ll not speak—tears Of lonely sadness Simply have my sleeves Left drenched. Tsurayuki Gyokuyōshū IX: 1252 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌 #valentinesday

Sent to someone’s residence. たよりある風もや吹くとまつしまによせて久しきあまのはし舟 Faithfully, will your letter Be carried by the wind, I wonder? To Matsushima, where I pine, At long last, drawing near is A fisher’s dinghy… Sei Shōnagon Gyokuyōshū IX: 1251 #wakapoem #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌 #valentinesday

When the Ise Virgin Junior Consort had yet to leave, he attached this to some cherry blossom and sent it to her.

On the same conception, when the Lay Priest and Former Chancellor had ten poem sequences composed at his residence. いまよりの涙のはてよいかならん恋ひそむるだに袖はぬれけり From this moment Cease, my tears! What has occurred? Why, love’s first tint is all That wets my sleeves. Former Major Counsellor Tame’uji GYS IX: 1249

On the conception of the beginning of love. わが心かからばいかがありへんと昨日けふにてしられぬるかな If my heart’s Focus will Endure you ask, then Yesterday, and again today, Surely have you known it! Major Counsellor Sane’ie Gyokuyōshū IX: 1248 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌 #valentinesday

Topic unknown. おもへどもはかなき物は吹く風の音にもきかぬ恋にぞありける I yearn, yet Am forlorn: The gusting wind Breathes not a sound of My love. Ki no Tomonori Gyokuyōshū IX: 1247 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌 #valentinesday

Left ほととぎすひとこゑなきてすぎぬれどしたふ心ぞちぢにありける The cuckoo A single call cried out, and Passed me by, yet Missing him, my heart He left in a thousand, thousand pieces. Lady Kazusa Eien narabō uta'awase 27

Love and winter あさぢはらあだなる霜のむすぼほれ日影をまつに消えやわたらん Fields of cogon grass, By faithless frost Held fast— Awaiting the sunshine, Shall I, too, fade away? Kinkai wakashū 512 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

On a folding screen for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony of the Northern Princess. 行きやらで山ぢくらしつほととぎす今ひとこゑのきかまほしさに I cannot go ahead As twilight falls upon the mountain paths, For a cuckoo’s Single call now Is what I long to hear… Minamoto no Kintada Shūishū II: 106

Left 夜もすがらまつにはなかでほととぎすあしたのはらにひとこゑぞきく All through the night I pined without a song, O, cuckoo Then with the morn on Ashita plain I hear a single call! Cell of Fragrant Cloud Eien narabō uta'awase 25

Love and winter あさぢ原あとなきのべに置く霜のむすぼほれつつ消えやわたらん Fields of cogon grass, Trackless, on the hillside With fallen frost Held ever fast— Shall I, too, fade away? Kinkai wakashū 511 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Left ほととぎすはなたちばなにやどるともなのらざりせばいかでしらまし The cuckoo Among the orange blossom May make his lodging, but If he fails to announce himself How would one ever know? Controller’s Graduate Eien narabō uta'awase 23

Love in the winter 庭のおもにしげりにけらし八重葎とはでいくよの秋かへぬらん All around my grounds How thickly seems to have grown Mugwort in layer after tangled layer; With no visits from him how many times Has autumn come round and round? Kinkai wakashū 510 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Left (Win) あたらしきただひとこゑをほととぎすいかなるさとになきとよむらん How fine Simply is your single call, O, cuckoo, What might be the estate which Resounds with your song? Cell of the Fragrant Elephant Eien narabō uta'awase 21

Love in the summer 五月やま木のしたやみの暗ければおのれまどひて鳴くほととぎす In the Fifth Month mountains The dark beneath the trees Is full of gloom, so I wander lost, A crying cuckoo. Kinkai wakashū 509 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Left (Win) さみだれにぬるともゆかむほととぎすふたこゑきなくさとはありやと By the summer showers We will be drenched, yet let’s away! For the cuckoo Has come to sing and sing again At that estate, perchance… Retired from the world Eien narabō uta'awase 19

Love on being unable to meet after meeting. 今更になにをかしのぶ花薄ほにいでし秋もたれならなくに Now ‘tis come to such a pass What is there to conceal? That the silver-grass Fronds have burst with autumn was Wrought by none, but you… Kinkai wakashū 508 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Left をちかたやくも井の山のほととぎすあまつよそにもなきわたるかな From the distant Mount within the clouds A cuckoo In yonder heavens Sings his song! Lord Saburō Eien narabō uta'awase 17

Love at a mountain retreat the morning after 消えなまし今朝尋ねずは山しろの人こぬやどのみちしばの露 I would fade away! This morning, unvisited In Yamashiro At a place where no one comes With the dew upon the roadside grasses… Kinkai wakashū 507 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Cuckoos Left ほととぎすまきのとばかりまちつれどなかであけぬる夏のしののめ O, cuckoo, Briefly by my door of cedar wood Did I await you, yet No song, at all, brightened This summer edge of dawn. Lord Dainagon Eien narabō uta'awase 15

Love at the dawn さむしろにつゆのはかなくおきていなば暁ごとにきえやわたらん Atop my scanty coverlet Fall fleeting dewdrops— When you rise and go, Every single dawn I feel I fade away… Kinkai wakashū 506 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Left しらなみのたつたのかはにしきるかな山のさくらはちりにけらしも Whitecaps On Tatsuta River Constant are! Upon the mountain cherries Have scattered it seems… Lady Kazusa Eien narabō uta'awase 13

Love at the dawn. あか月の露やいかなる露ならんおきてしゆけばわびしかりけり At the dawn What sort of dew Drops might these be? When he has risen and gone, How forlorn and lonely am I… Kinkai wakashū 505 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Left (Win) やへざくらふるきみやこににほへどもふりずもはなのめづらしきかな Eightfold cherry Around the ancient capital Does glow, yet Unfallen and anew, the blossoms Are remarkable! Cell of Fragrant Cloud Eien narabō uta'awase 11

Love at the dawn. あかつきの鴫のはねがきしげけれどなど逢ふ事のま遠なるらん At the dawn The snipes’ wingbeats Incessant are, so Why must our meetings Be intermittent? Kinkai wakashū 504 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Topic unknown. 曉のしぎのはねがきももはがき君がこぬ夜は我ぞかずかく With the dawn The snipe beat their wings A hundred times or more On nights without a visit from you I count them all. Anonymous Kokinshū XV: 761 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Left (Win) さくらやまはなのさかりに風ふけばこずゑをこして白波ぞたつ On the mount of Cherries So fine is the blossom that When the wind does blow, Passing o’er the treetops, Whitecaps arise! Controller’s Graduate Eien narabō uta'awase 9

Long-lasting Love わが恋はあはでふるのの小篠はらいくよまでとか霜のおくらん My love: Without a meeting, for ages on Furu Plain Among the dwarf-bamboo groves, For how many nights more will I be, Amidst the falling frost? Kinkai wakashū 503 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Left (Win) 春の日をなほながかれとおもふかなはな見ることのあかぬこころは O, let the days of spring Still linger lengthily on, I wish! For Gazing on the blossom Has yet to sate my heart… Cell of the Fragrant Elephant Eien narabō uta'awase 7

Hidden love しぐれふる大あらきの野の小篠はらぬれはひづとも色に出でめや Showers fall upon Ōaraki Plain, where The dwarf-bamboo groves are Soaked and drenched, but Shall I show a hint of passion? Kinkai wakashū 502 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Left (Win) うきよにもはなのさかりになりぬればものおもふ人はあらじとぞ思ふ Even in this cruel world The blossoms in profusion Are, so Folk sunk in gloomy thought Are there likely not a one, I feel! Retired from the world on Mount Uji Eien narabō uta'awase 5

Composed at the Nagisa Palace when he saw the cherries in bloom. 世中にたえてさくらのなかりせば春の心はのどけからまし If, in this world of ours All the cherry blossom Disappeared The heart of spring Might find peace. Ariwara no Narihira Kokinshū I: 53

Topic unknown. おほかたのわが身ひとつのうきからになべての世をも怨みつるかな In general My sorry self, alone, Has caused these woes, but Still all of this common world I do despise! Tsurayuki Shūishū XV: 953

Hidden Love. 時雨ふる秋の山辺に置く霜の色にはいでじ色にいづとも The showers falling On the autumn mountainside, Covered with frost— No tint upon my face, Though I be filled with passion’s hues… Kinkai wakashū 501 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Left をちこちのちるはなごとにたぐひつつ春はこころのあくがるるかな Here and there Every single scattered blossom Enthralls me; Spring within my heart I hold so dear. Lord Saburō Eien narabō uta'awase 3

Hidden Love among the Grasses. 秋風になびくすすきのほには出でず心みだれてものをおもふかな In the autumn breeze The trailing silver-grass has Not yet burst into bud, The confusion in my heart Leaves me sunk in thoughts of gloom! Kinkai wakashū 500 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

Cherry Round One Left みやまにはしひがかざをれはやけれどふもとのはなはことしさくめり Deep within the mountains, Brushwood is broken by the wind So swiftly, yet In the foothills the blossom Will bloom this year, it seems. Lord Dainagon Eien narabō uta'awase 1

The end of winter-beginning of the Twelfth Month. みやまにははやまのあらしあらげなりしひのかざをれいくそかかれり Deep within the mountains Across the timber slopes the storm wind Rages; Brushwood is broken by the wind O’er countless tens of trees. Sone no Yoshitada Yoshitada-shū 342

Hidden Love among the Grasses. わが恋は夏ののすすき茂けれどほにしあらねばとふ人もなし My love is as The silver-grass in summer, Lush, yet Not yet bursting into bud, so There’s no one who takes notice. Kinkai wakashū 499 #wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌

A poem presented by Mototoshi to accompany his judgements. 身をおきてなどやうきよをうらむらん断しらぬ我が心かな Why does my sorry self This cruel world Hate so? Logic is unknown To this heart of mine! Fujiwara no Mototoshi Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 73

Left (T – Win) わが恋はたかしの浜にゐる田鶴の尋ねてゆかん方もおぼえず My love is Upon Takashi Beach A resting crane— He will go a’visting, but Where? No one knows… Lord Tamezane Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 71

When Tsurayuki was in the province of Izumi, Tadafusa came over from Yamato and composed and sent this poem. 君を思ひおきつのはまになくたづの尋ねくればぞありとだにきく Concerned for you By Okitsu beach The calling cranes Come and enquire Finding you in good health, at least. Fujiwara no Tadafusa Kokinshū XVII: 914