Thomas McAuley
@wakapoet.bsky.social
Translator of premodern Japanese poetry.
Left (M – Win)
水鳥の青葉の山やいかならん梢をそむる今朝のしぐれに
Waterfowl fly above
Aoba Mountain—
O, what is to become
Of the treetops dyed
By this morning’s shower?
Lord Akinaka
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 7
水鳥の青葉の山やいかならん梢をそむる今朝のしぐれに
Waterfowl fly above
Aoba Mountain—
O, what is to become
Of the treetops dyed
By this morning’s shower?
Lord Akinaka
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 7
November 20, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Left (M – Win)
水鳥の青葉の山やいかならん梢をそむる今朝のしぐれに
Waterfowl fly above
Aoba Mountain—
O, what is to become
Of the treetops dyed
By this morning’s shower?
Lord Akinaka
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 7
水鳥の青葉の山やいかならん梢をそむる今朝のしぐれに
Waterfowl fly above
Aoba Mountain—
O, what is to become
Of the treetops dyed
By this morning’s shower?
Lord Akinaka
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 7
Left (T – Win)
時雨には色ならぬ身の袖笠もぬるればかをる物にぞ有りける
When, amidst a shower
My colourless
Umbrella of sleeves
Is soaked, something scented
Does it become!
Shōshō no kimi
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 5
時雨には色ならぬ身の袖笠もぬるればかをる物にぞ有りける
When, amidst a shower
My colourless
Umbrella of sleeves
Is soaked, something scented
Does it become!
Shōshō no kimi
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 5
November 19, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Left (T – Win)
時雨には色ならぬ身の袖笠もぬるればかをる物にぞ有りける
When, amidst a shower
My colourless
Umbrella of sleeves
Is soaked, something scented
Does it become!
Shōshō no kimi
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 5
時雨には色ならぬ身の袖笠もぬるればかをる物にぞ有りける
When, amidst a shower
My colourless
Umbrella of sleeves
Is soaked, something scented
Does it become!
Shōshō no kimi
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 5
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
おくやまの岩がき沼に木のは落ちてしづめる心人しるらめや
Deep within the mountains
Lies a marsh among the crags, where
Leaves off the trees fall,
Sinking, my heart—
Does she know at all, I wonder…
Kinkai wakashū 464
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
おくやまの岩がき沼に木のは落ちてしづめる心人しるらめや
Deep within the mountains
Lies a marsh among the crags, where
Leaves off the trees fall,
Sinking, my heart—
Does she know at all, I wonder…
Kinkai wakashū 464
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
November 19, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Left (T – Tie; M – Win)
あやしくも時雨にかへる袂かなゐなの笠はらさして行けども
How strange that
From the shower I shelter
Beneath my sleeves!
Though into the umbrella of the dwarf-bamboo groves of Ina
Is where I’m heading…
A Court Lady
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 3
あやしくも時雨にかへる袂かなゐなの笠はらさして行けども
How strange that
From the shower I shelter
Beneath my sleeves!
Though into the umbrella of the dwarf-bamboo groves of Ina
Is where I’m heading…
A Court Lady
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 3
November 18, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Left (T – Tie; M – Win)
あやしくも時雨にかへる袂かなゐなの笠はらさして行けども
How strange that
From the shower I shelter
Beneath my sleeves!
Though into the umbrella of the dwarf-bamboo groves of Ina
Is where I’m heading…
A Court Lady
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 3
あやしくも時雨にかへる袂かなゐなの笠はらさして行けども
How strange that
From the shower I shelter
Beneath my sleeves!
Though into the umbrella of the dwarf-bamboo groves of Ina
Is where I’m heading…
A Court Lady
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 3
Showers
Left (Win – Both judges)
終夜嵐の音にたぐひつつ木の葉とともに降るしぐれかな
All night long
The sound of storm winds
Is laced
With that of leaves and
Falling showers!
Lady Settsu, in service to the Empress
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 1
Left (Win – Both judges)
終夜嵐の音にたぐひつつ木の葉とともに降るしぐれかな
All night long
The sound of storm winds
Is laced
With that of leaves and
Falling showers!
Lady Settsu, in service to the Empress
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 1
November 17, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Showers
Left (Win – Both judges)
終夜嵐の音にたぐひつつ木の葉とともに降るしぐれかな
All night long
The sound of storm winds
Is laced
With that of leaves and
Falling showers!
Lady Settsu, in service to the Empress
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 1
Left (Win – Both judges)
終夜嵐の音にたぐひつつ木の葉とともに降るしぐれかな
All night long
The sound of storm winds
Is laced
With that of leaves and
Falling showers!
Lady Settsu, in service to the Empress
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 1
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
広瀬川そでつくばかりあさけれど我はふかめておもひ初めてき
The Hirose River
Simply brushes my sleeves
‘Tis so shallow, yet
Deeply, have I
Begun to love you.
Kinkai wakashū 462
広瀬川そでつくばかりあさけれど我はふかめておもひ初めてき
The Hirose River
Simply brushes my sleeves
‘Tis so shallow, yet
Deeply, have I
Begun to love you.
Kinkai wakashū 462
November 17, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
広瀬川そでつくばかりあさけれど我はふかめておもひ初めてき
The Hirose River
Simply brushes my sleeves
‘Tis so shallow, yet
Deeply, have I
Begun to love you.
Kinkai wakashū 462
広瀬川そでつくばかりあさけれど我はふかめておもひ初めてき
The Hirose River
Simply brushes my sleeves
‘Tis so shallow, yet
Deeply, have I
Begun to love you.
Kinkai wakashū 462
Left (Win)
あやなしなたぶさにずずをとりながらおもふこころのかつみだるらむ
How strange it is!
Within my hand sundry bijoux
I hold, yet still
My heart and thoughts
Are all confused…
Jakunen
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 149
あやなしなたぶさにずずをとりながらおもふこころのかつみだるらむ
How strange it is!
Within my hand sundry bijoux
I hold, yet still
My heart and thoughts
Are all confused…
Jakunen
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 149
November 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Left (Win)
あやなしなたぶさにずずをとりながらおもふこころのかつみだるらむ
How strange it is!
Within my hand sundry bijoux
I hold, yet still
My heart and thoughts
Are all confused…
Jakunen
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 149
あやなしなたぶさにずずをとりながらおもふこころのかつみだるらむ
How strange it is!
Within my hand sundry bijoux
I hold, yet still
My heart and thoughts
Are all confused…
Jakunen
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 149
Left (Tie)
なにごとをまつとはなしにすみよしのかみにこころをかけぬまぞなき
Nothing in particular
Have I to expect, but
Sumiyoshi’s
Deity within my heart
Dwells not for no moments at all!
Shōkaku
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 147
なにごとをまつとはなしにすみよしのかみにこころをかけぬまぞなき
Nothing in particular
Have I to expect, but
Sumiyoshi’s
Deity within my heart
Dwells not for no moments at all!
Shōkaku
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 147
November 14, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Left (Tie)
なにごとをまつとはなしにすみよしのかみにこころをかけぬまぞなき
Nothing in particular
Have I to expect, but
Sumiyoshi’s
Deity within my heart
Dwells not for no moments at all!
Shōkaku
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 147
なにごとをまつとはなしにすみよしのかみにこころをかけぬまぞなき
Nothing in particular
Have I to expect, but
Sumiyoshi’s
Deity within my heart
Dwells not for no moments at all!
Shōkaku
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 147
Left (Win)
つのくにのなにはのこともあしのねのこのよはかくてかれはてねとや
In the land of Tsu
At Naniwa, all things
Are ill, as the reeds roots,
In this world have I thus
Withered all away?
Chūnagon
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 145
つのくにのなにはのこともあしのねのこのよはかくてかれはてねとや
In the land of Tsu
At Naniwa, all things
Are ill, as the reeds roots,
In this world have I thus
Withered all away?
Chūnagon
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 145
November 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Left (Win)
つのくにのなにはのこともあしのねのこのよはかくてかれはてねとや
In the land of Tsu
At Naniwa, all things
Are ill, as the reeds roots,
In this world have I thus
Withered all away?
Chūnagon
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 145
つのくにのなにはのこともあしのねのこのよはかくてかれはてねとや
In the land of Tsu
At Naniwa, all things
Are ill, as the reeds roots,
In this world have I thus
Withered all away?
Chūnagon
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 145
Left
おひやらぬいはねのまつはわれなれやひさしくよよにみどりなるかな
A spindly
Pine growing in the crag-cracks
Am I?
Forever through the years
I am stuck at green!
Minamoto no Munenaga
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 143
おひやらぬいはねのまつはわれなれやひさしくよよにみどりなるかな
A spindly
Pine growing in the crag-cracks
Am I?
Forever through the years
I am stuck at green!
Minamoto no Munenaga
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 143
November 12, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Left
おひやらぬいはねのまつはわれなれやひさしくよよにみどりなるかな
A spindly
Pine growing in the crag-cracks
Am I?
Forever through the years
I am stuck at green!
Minamoto no Munenaga
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 143
おひやらぬいはねのまつはわれなれやひさしくよよにみどりなるかな
A spindly
Pine growing in the crag-cracks
Am I?
Forever through the years
I am stuck at green!
Minamoto no Munenaga
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 143
Left (Tie)
かずならぬみこそおもへばうれしけれうきにつけてぞよをもいとはむ
Not even numbered among folk
Am I, thinking that
Fills me with joy, but
All the cruelties of this world
Make me wish to leave it.
Asamune
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 141
かずならぬみこそおもへばうれしけれうきにつけてぞよをもいとはむ
Not even numbered among folk
Am I, thinking that
Fills me with joy, but
All the cruelties of this world
Make me wish to leave it.
Asamune
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 141
November 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Left (Tie)
かずならぬみこそおもへばうれしけれうきにつけてぞよをもいとはむ
Not even numbered among folk
Am I, thinking that
Fills me with joy, but
All the cruelties of this world
Make me wish to leave it.
Asamune
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 141
かずならぬみこそおもへばうれしけれうきにつけてぞよをもいとはむ
Not even numbered among folk
Am I, thinking that
Fills me with joy, but
All the cruelties of this world
Make me wish to leave it.
Asamune
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 141
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
なにはがた浦よりをちに鳴くたづのよそに聞きつつこひやわたらん
In Naniwa’s tidelands
Distant from the shore
Cry cranes—
Hearing ever from afar
Will my love for her go on and on?
Kinkai wakashū 458
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
なにはがた浦よりをちに鳴くたづのよそに聞きつつこひやわたらん
In Naniwa’s tidelands
Distant from the shore
Cry cranes—
Hearing ever from afar
Will my love for her go on and on?
Kinkai wakashū 458
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
November 11, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Left (Tie)
みのうさをわすれぐさこそきしにおふれむべすみよしとあまもいひけれ
The misery of my life
I forget among the day lilies
Growing on the shore—
No wonder, Sumiyoshi is a pleasant place
Say the fisherfolk, too!
Kunisuke
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 139
みのうさをわすれぐさこそきしにおふれむべすみよしとあまもいひけれ
The misery of my life
I forget among the day lilies
Growing on the shore—
No wonder, Sumiyoshi is a pleasant place
Say the fisherfolk, too!
Kunisuke
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 139
November 10, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Left (Tie)
みのうさをわすれぐさこそきしにおふれむべすみよしとあまもいひけれ
The misery of my life
I forget among the day lilies
Growing on the shore—
No wonder, Sumiyoshi is a pleasant place
Say the fisherfolk, too!
Kunisuke
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 139
みのうさをわすれぐさこそきしにおふれむべすみよしとあまもいひけれ
The misery of my life
I forget among the day lilies
Growing on the shore—
No wonder, Sumiyoshi is a pleasant place
Say the fisherfolk, too!
Kunisuke
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 139
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
淡路島かよふ千鳥のしばしばもはねかくまなく恋ひやわたらん
Above Awaji Isle
Back and forth the plovers go
Not even a brief
Break between their wingbeats—
Will my love for her go on and on?
Kinkai wakashū 457
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
淡路島かよふ千鳥のしばしばもはねかくまなく恋ひやわたらん
Above Awaji Isle
Back and forth the plovers go
Not even a brief
Break between their wingbeats—
Will my love for her go on and on?
Kinkai wakashū 457
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
November 10, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Left (Win)
やはらぐるひかりをたのむしるしにはこむよのやみをてらさざらめや
The God has dimmed
His light, but rely on it
As a sign, I will, that
In the darkness of the world to come
He will surely shine…
Dharma Master Yūsei
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 137
やはらぐるひかりをたのむしるしにはこむよのやみをてらさざらめや
The God has dimmed
His light, but rely on it
As a sign, I will, that
In the darkness of the world to come
He will surely shine…
Dharma Master Yūsei
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 137
November 6, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Left (Win)
やはらぐるひかりをたのむしるしにはこむよのやみをてらさざらめや
The God has dimmed
His light, but rely on it
As a sign, I will, that
In the darkness of the world to come
He will surely shine…
Dharma Master Yūsei
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 137
やはらぐるひかりをたのむしるしにはこむよのやみをてらさざらめや
The God has dimmed
His light, but rely on it
As a sign, I will, that
In the darkness of the world to come
He will surely shine…
Dharma Master Yūsei
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 137
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
磯上ふるのたかはしふりぬとももとつ人にはこひやわたらむ
In Isonokami
The high bridge at Furu
Has grown old, yet
She who has been always in my heart
Will I continue to ever love?
Kinkai wakashū 456
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
磯上ふるのたかはしふりぬとももとつ人にはこひやわたらむ
In Isonokami
The high bridge at Furu
Has grown old, yet
She who has been always in my heart
Will I continue to ever love?
Kinkai wakashū 456
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
November 6, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Left (Tie)
すみよしのきしかたのよにひきかへてはなさくまつのみともならばや
On Sumiyoshi’s
Shore, for the coming world
I would exchange—
Waiting for blossom to bloom upon the pines—
Myself, that’s what I long for…
Koretsuna
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 135
すみよしのきしかたのよにひきかへてはなさくまつのみともならばや
On Sumiyoshi’s
Shore, for the coming world
I would exchange—
Waiting for blossom to bloom upon the pines—
Myself, that’s what I long for…
Koretsuna
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 135
November 5, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Left (Tie)
すみよしのきしかたのよにひきかへてはなさくまつのみともならばや
On Sumiyoshi’s
Shore, for the coming world
I would exchange—
Waiting for blossom to bloom upon the pines—
Myself, that’s what I long for…
Koretsuna
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 135
すみよしのきしかたのよにひきかへてはなさくまつのみともならばや
On Sumiyoshi’s
Shore, for the coming world
I would exchange—
Waiting for blossom to bloom upon the pines—
Myself, that’s what I long for…
Koretsuna
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 135
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
大あらきのうき田の杜に引くしめのうちはへてのみこひやわたらん
In Ōaraki,
The holy grove of Ukita
Is hung with sacred cords,
Simply stretched all around,
Will my love for her continue on and on?
Kinkai wakashū 455
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋
大あらきのうき田の杜に引くしめのうちはへてのみこひやわたらん
In Ōaraki,
The holy grove of Ukita
Is hung with sacred cords,
Simply stretched all around,
Will my love for her continue on and on?
Kinkai wakashū 455
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋
November 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Left (Win)
すみよしのなごのはまべにあさりしてけふぞしりぬるいけるかひをば
At Sumiyoshi
On Nago’s seashore
Have I gathered shellfish, for
Today, I know too well, that
There is a point to life…
Taifu
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 133
すみよしのなごのはまべにあさりしてけふぞしりぬるいけるかひをば
At Sumiyoshi
On Nago’s seashore
Have I gathered shellfish, for
Today, I know too well, that
There is a point to life…
Taifu
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 133
November 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Left (Win)
すみよしのなごのはまべにあさりしてけふぞしりぬるいけるかひをば
At Sumiyoshi
On Nago’s seashore
Have I gathered shellfish, for
Today, I know too well, that
There is a point to life…
Taifu
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 133
すみよしのなごのはまべにあさりしてけふぞしりぬるいけるかひをば
At Sumiyoshi
On Nago’s seashore
Have I gathered shellfish, for
Today, I know too well, that
There is a point to life…
Taifu
Sumiyoshi-sha uta'awase 133
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
とよ国の菊のながはま夢にだにまだみぬ人に恋ひやわたらん
In the land of Toyo, in the western isle,
Lies the long beach of Kiku, I hear—
Even in my dreams
Have I yet to see her, but
Will my love for her go on and on?
Kinkai wakashū 454
とよ国の菊のながはま夢にだにまだみぬ人に恋ひやわたらん
In the land of Toyo, in the western isle,
Lies the long beach of Kiku, I hear—
Even in my dreams
Have I yet to see her, but
Will my love for her go on and on?
Kinkai wakashū 454
November 4, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
とよ国の菊のながはま夢にだにまだみぬ人に恋ひやわたらん
In the land of Toyo, in the western isle,
Lies the long beach of Kiku, I hear—
Even in my dreams
Have I yet to see her, but
Will my love for her go on and on?
Kinkai wakashū 454
とよ国の菊のながはま夢にだにまだみぬ人に恋ひやわたらん
In the land of Toyo, in the western isle,
Lies the long beach of Kiku, I hear—
Even in my dreams
Have I yet to see her, but
Will my love for her go on and on?
Kinkai wakashū 454