four poems of Izumi Shikibu

Sent to the reverend priest Shōku

darkness departing
darkness still deeper to walk
shine bright on the way
ahead of me o blesséd
upon the mountain rim moon

 

*

 

the pillowing arm
its sleeve carries the frost too
fallen everywhere
looking in the morning light
I behold it white as hemp

 

*

 

Sent to a personage during my illness

near nonexistent
I would have you beside me
now if only once
to have the memory live
as I go off from the world

 

*

 

lying down alone
I am so lost missing you
that I've forgotten
all my tangled long black hair
desiring who unbound it

 

tr. after Prof. Miner