Translation


By Empress Dowager Taiken, Lady Horikawa (after 1142)


I know not

The constancy of his heart—

And this morning

My hair and feelings

Are both in tangles



Original Japanese

Pronunciation



待賢門院堀河

Taiken Moin no Horikawa



長からむ

Nagakaran

心もしらず

Kokoro mo shirazu

黒髪の

Kurokami no

みだれてけさは

Midarete kesa wa

物をこそ思へ

Mono wo koso omoe



Literal Notes


Long-time

Heart also know not

Black hair ’s

[Disordered/disarrayed/chaos/disheveled/confused] this-morning

Thing this feeling


“Midarete” literally means “black hair” but it is a “pillow word” for disordered, confused, tangled.


Year: 
2012