Murasaki Poetry

Poems in Waka form by Lady Murasaki Shikibu, celebrated author of the world's first novel, The Tale of Genji.

Designated one of the One Hundred Poets, Murasaki is shown dressed in a violet kimono, the color associated with her name, in this Edo period illustration

Lady Murasaki (973?–1031?) was a Japanese novelist, poet, and lady-in-waiting at the Imperial court during the Heian period. She is best known as the author of the world’s first novel The Tale of Genji. Murasaki composed Waka poetry as she wrote her masterpiece Tale of Genji. A member of the imperial court, she entertained the empress with her stories and poetry.

Heian women of her time were traditionally excluded from learning Chinese. Chinese was the language of scholars and the formal written language of government. But Murasaki was raised in her scholarly father’s household and managed to acquire fluency in written chinese and familiarity of the Chinese classics, typically restricted to males only.

Murasaki wrote The Diary of Lady Murasaki, a volume of poetry, and The Tale of Genji. Genji quickly became popular and is now recognized as a classic of Japanese literature. It remains a subject of scholarly criticism and an inspiration for much artwork and theater.

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Poetry by Lady Murasaki

What is waka?Japanese poetry in the form of waka precedes the haiku forms favored by later poets, such as Basho. The waka consists of five lines with a set number of sounds or syllables in the pattern of 5, 7, 5, 7, 7. The haiku is basically similar to the first three lines of waka, in the haiku pattern of 5, 7, 5.

Selected Poems

Poems are shown with an English translation first, 
and the Japanese Waka alongside.

The Lady Murasaki writing at her desk in brush pen and ink stick calligraphy.

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As life flows on, 
who will ever read it--
this keepsake to her
whose memory 
will never die?

Tare ka yo ni     
nagaraete mimu     
kakitomeshi     
ato wa kiesenu     
katami naredomo

Chancing to meet again, 
did I truly see you or, before I could tell, 
had you disappeared 
behind the clouds--
face of the midnight moon?

Maguriaite     
mishi ya sore tomo     
wakanu ma ni     
kumogakurenishi     
yowa no tsukikage

Fretting and longing, 
gazing at the moon 
across the western sea, 
it is a time of 
nothing but tears.

Nishi no umi wo     
omoiyaritsutsu     
tsuki mireba     
tada ni nakaruru     
koro ni mo aru kana

As the song of the crickets 
fades in the hedge, 
it is impossible to 
stop autumn's farewell; 
how sad they must be too...

Nakiyowaru     
magaki no mushi mo     
tomegataki     
aki no wakare ya     
kanashikaru kana

Westward messages 
following the moon, 
why would I forget 
to send news along 
with the drifting clouds?

Nishi e yuku     
tsuki no tayori ni     
tamazusa no    
 kikitaeme ya wa     
kumo no kayoiji

If I were to vanish away, 
would you come 
seeking my name 
even unto 
the grave?

Uki mi yo ni     
yagate kienaba     
tazunetem     
kusa no hara o ba     
towaji to ya omon

Poetry as Communication

Sometimes waka poetry was exchanged, especially among members of the court, as letters. A poem was sent to the intended. A skillful reply was returned, using elements or images from the first poem. 

The Plea:

Deep in the dew 
of these faraway hills 
maple leaves turn scarlet; 
I wish I could show you 
the color of my sleeves.

Tsuyu fukaku     
okuyamazato no     
momijiba ni     
kayoeru sode no     
iro o misebaya

The Reply:

Raging in faraway hills, 
the storm relentlessly
sweeps away both 
scarlet leaves and dew, 
leaving no trace.

Arashi fuku     
touyamazato no     
momijiba wa    
 tsuyu mo tomaran     
koto no katasa yo

The Response:

Scarlet leaves, seduced 
insistently by the storm, 
had no desire to 
fall anywhere save 
underneath the tree.

Momijiba wo     
sason arashi wa     
hayakeredo     
ko no shita narade    
 yuku kokoro ka wa

Paired Poems

The Plaint:

Frosted stiff by ice,
my writing brush
cannot begin to 
draw you a picture
of my feelings.

Shimo kouri
tojitaru koro no
mizukuki wa
e mo kakiyaranu
kokochi nomi shite

The Response:

Though it flows not,
continue to write;
your pain will float away
like frost and ice
on the water.

Yukazu tomo
nao kakitsume yo
shimo kouri
mizu no ne nite
omoinagasamu

More Poems by Lady Murasaki

Write to me as often as
their wings inscribe the clouds,
the brushing wings of the 
wild geese heading north,
never stop writing.

Kita e yuku
kari no tsubasa ni
kotozute yo
kumo no uwagaki
kakitaezu shite

From The Tale of Genji, an interior court scene. by Hiroshige (1852) ukiyo-e