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A Hundred Verses from Old Japan (The Hyakunin-isshu), tr. by William N. Porter, [1909], at sacred-texts.com


p. 50

50

YOSHITAKA FUJIWARA

FUJIWARA NO YOSHITAKA

  Kimi ga tame
Oshikarazarishi
  Inochi sae
Nagaku mogana to
Omoi keru kana.

DEATH had no terrors, Life no joys,
  Before I met with thee;
But now I fear, however long
  My life may chance to be,
  ’Twill be too short for me!

Yoshitaka died in the year 974. See verse No. 18 for a note of the Fujiwara family.


Next: 51. The Minister Sanekata Fujiwara: Fujiwara no Sanekata Ason