Thomas McAuley
@wakapoet.bsky.social
Translator of premodern Japanese poetry.
Left
さごろもの袂はせばしかづけども時雨の雨は心してふれ
My night robe’s
Sleeve are narrow:
I cover myself, yet,
O rain shower,
Fall with care!
Lord Toshitaka
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 21
さごろもの袂はせばしかづけども時雨の雨は心してふれ
My night robe’s
Sleeve are narrow:
I cover myself, yet,
O rain shower,
Fall with care!
Lord Toshitaka
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 21
December 1, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Left
さごろもの袂はせばしかづけども時雨の雨は心してふれ
My night robe’s
Sleeve are narrow:
I cover myself, yet,
O rain shower,
Fall with care!
Lord Toshitaka
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 21
さごろもの袂はせばしかづけども時雨の雨は心してふれ
My night robe’s
Sleeve are narrow:
I cover myself, yet,
O rain shower,
Fall with care!
Lord Toshitaka
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 21
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
あづまぢの道のおくなるしら川のせきあへぬ袖をもる涙かな
On Eastern roads,
On ways into the heartlands lies
Shirakawa’s
Barrier—unable to match it my sleeves
Are soaked with tears!
Kinkai wakashū 472
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
あづまぢの道のおくなるしら川のせきあへぬ袖をもる涙かな
On Eastern roads,
On ways into the heartlands lies
Shirakawa’s
Barrier—unable to match it my sleeves
Are soaked with tears!
Kinkai wakashū 472
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
December 1, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Left (T – Tie)
波よする蜑の苫やのひまをあらみもるにてぞしるよはのしぐれは
Waves break near
A sedge-thatched hut’s
Crude gaps
The leaks reveal
A midnight shower…
Lord Tadafusa
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 19
波よする蜑の苫やのひまをあらみもるにてぞしるよはのしぐれは
Waves break near
A sedge-thatched hut’s
Crude gaps
The leaks reveal
A midnight shower…
Lord Tadafusa
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 19
November 28, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Left (T – Tie)
波よする蜑の苫やのひまをあらみもるにてぞしるよはのしぐれは
Waves break near
A sedge-thatched hut’s
Crude gaps
The leaks reveal
A midnight shower…
Lord Tadafusa
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 19
波よする蜑の苫やのひまをあらみもるにてぞしるよはのしぐれは
Waves break near
A sedge-thatched hut’s
Crude gaps
The leaks reveal
A midnight shower…
Lord Tadafusa
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 19
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
いせ島やいちしのあまのすて衣あふことなみに朽ちやはてなん
On Ise Isle
At Ichishi a fisherman has
Abandoned his garb
To the waves—unable to meet
Will I, too, rot away, I wonder?
Kinkai wakashū 471
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌 #aiart
いせ島やいちしのあまのすて衣あふことなみに朽ちやはてなん
On Ise Isle
At Ichishi a fisherman has
Abandoned his garb
To the waves—unable to meet
Will I, too, rot away, I wonder?
Kinkai wakashū 471
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌 #aiart
November 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Left (T – Tie; M – Win)
神無月旅行く人もいづくにかたちかくるべき時雨もる山
In the Godless Month
For folk gone travelling
Is there anywhere
To hide themselves away,
As the showers drip down on Mount Moru?
Lady Shinano
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 17
神無月旅行く人もいづくにかたちかくるべき時雨もる山
In the Godless Month
For folk gone travelling
Is there anywhere
To hide themselves away,
As the showers drip down on Mount Moru?
Lady Shinano
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 17
November 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Left (T – Tie; M – Win)
神無月旅行く人もいづくにかたちかくるべき時雨もる山
In the Godless Month
For folk gone travelling
Is there anywhere
To hide themselves away,
As the showers drip down on Mount Moru?
Lady Shinano
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 17
神無月旅行く人もいづくにかたちかくるべき時雨もる山
In the Godless Month
For folk gone travelling
Is there anywhere
To hide themselves away,
As the showers drip down on Mount Moru?
Lady Shinano
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 17
Left (Both Judges – Tie)
神無月三室の山の紅葉ばも色に出でぬべく降るしぐれかな
In the Godless Month
On Mount Mimuro
The autumn leaves
Show no hues at all, despite
The falling showers!
Lord Morikata
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 15
神無月三室の山の紅葉ばも色に出でぬべく降るしぐれかな
In the Godless Month
On Mount Mimuro
The autumn leaves
Show no hues at all, despite
The falling showers!
Lord Morikata
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 15
November 26, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Left (Both Judges – Tie)
神無月三室の山の紅葉ばも色に出でぬべく降るしぐれかな
In the Godless Month
On Mount Mimuro
The autumn leaves
Show no hues at all, despite
The falling showers!
Lord Morikata
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 15
神無月三室の山の紅葉ばも色に出でぬべく降るしぐれかな
In the Godless Month
On Mount Mimuro
The autumn leaves
Show no hues at all, despite
The falling showers!
Lord Morikata
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 15
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
しらやまにふりてつもれる雪なれば下こそきゆれうへはつれなし
On Mount Shirayma, so white,
Fallen and drifted is
The snow:
Beneath it vanishes away, while
Atop ‘tis cruelly chill.
Kinkai wakashū 469
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
しらやまにふりてつもれる雪なれば下こそきゆれうへはつれなし
On Mount Shirayma, so white,
Fallen and drifted is
The snow:
Beneath it vanishes away, while
Atop ‘tis cruelly chill.
Kinkai wakashū 469
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
November 26, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Left (Both Judges – Win)
音にさへ袂をぬらす時雨かな槙の板屋のよはの寝覚に
Even the sound
Does soak my sleeves with
A shower
Striking my roof of cedar boards,
Awaking at midnight…
Lord Sadanobu
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 13
音にさへ袂をぬらす時雨かな槙の板屋のよはの寝覚に
Even the sound
Does soak my sleeves with
A shower
Striking my roof of cedar boards,
Awaking at midnight…
Lord Sadanobu
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 13
November 25, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Left (Both Judges – Win)
音にさへ袂をぬらす時雨かな槙の板屋のよはの寝覚に
Even the sound
Does soak my sleeves with
A shower
Striking my roof of cedar boards,
Awaking at midnight…
Lord Sadanobu
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 13
音にさへ袂をぬらす時雨かな槙の板屋のよはの寝覚に
Even the sound
Does soak my sleeves with
A shower
Striking my roof of cedar boards,
Awaking at midnight…
Lord Sadanobu
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 13
Left (M – Tie)
さもこそは槙のまやぶき薄からめもるばかりにもうつ時雨かな
Truly,
A roof of cedar boughs
Seems scanty, for
It simply leaks when
Struck by a shower!
Lord Morotoshi
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 11
さもこそは槙のまやぶき薄からめもるばかりにもうつ時雨かな
Truly,
A roof of cedar boughs
Seems scanty, for
It simply leaks when
Struck by a shower!
Lord Morotoshi
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 11
November 24, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Left (M – Tie)
さもこそは槙のまやぶき薄からめもるばかりにもうつ時雨かな
Truly,
A roof of cedar boughs
Seems scanty, for
It simply leaks when
Struck by a shower!
Lord Morotoshi
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 11
さもこそは槙のまやぶき薄からめもるばかりにもうつ時雨かな
Truly,
A roof of cedar boughs
Seems scanty, for
It simply leaks when
Struck by a shower!
Lord Morotoshi
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 11
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
年ふとも音にはたてじ音羽川した行く水のしたのおもひを
The years may pass, yet
I’ll make not a sound, as
The Otowa River’s
Waters flow beneath, so
Secret will be my passion’s fire…
Kinkai wakashū 467
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
年ふとも音にはたてじ音羽川した行く水のしたのおもひを
The years may pass, yet
I’ll make not a sound, as
The Otowa River’s
Waters flow beneath, so
Secret will be my passion’s fire…
Kinkai wakashū 467
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
November 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Left (T – Tie)
時雨には菅の小笠も水もりて遠の旅人ぬれやしぬらん
In such a shower
A little hat of woven sedge, too,
Drips with water;
A distant traveller
Is drenched, no doubt…
Lady Kazusa
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 9
時雨には菅の小笠も水もりて遠の旅人ぬれやしぬらん
In such a shower
A little hat of woven sedge, too,
Drips with water;
A distant traveller
Is drenched, no doubt…
Lady Kazusa
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 9
November 21, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Left (T – Tie)
時雨には菅の小笠も水もりて遠の旅人ぬれやしぬらん
In such a shower
A little hat of woven sedge, too,
Drips with water;
A distant traveller
Is drenched, no doubt…
Lady Kazusa
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 9
時雨には菅の小笠も水もりて遠の旅人ぬれやしぬらん
In such a shower
A little hat of woven sedge, too,
Drips with water;
A distant traveller
Is drenched, no doubt…
Lady Kazusa
Naidaijin-ke uta'awase 9
Composed on the conception of love at a famous location
三熊野のうらのはまゆふいはずとも思ふ心の数をしらなん
At fair Kumano,
Lilies on the beach
Say nothing, yet
The yearnings in my heart for you
In number I would have you know!
Kinkai wakashū 466
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
三熊野のうらのはまゆふいはずとも思ふ心の数をしらなん
At fair Kumano,
Lilies on the beach
Say nothing, yet
The yearnings in my heart for you
In number I would have you know!
Kinkai wakashū 466
#wakapoem #wakapoetry #poem #love #Japan #lovepoem #和歌 #恋 #恋歌
November 21, 2025 at 5:35 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
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