This is a collection of traditional Japanese Wakas and their translations recommended by Yuko Tanaka.
百人一首 contains one hundred Wakas by one hundred poets. They are also playing cards.
“Waka” (和歌） is a type of Japanese poetry, that contains syllables: 5, 7, 5, 7, 7 in this order.
2. 持統天皇
春過ぎて 夏来にけらし 白妙の 衣ほすてふ 天の香具山
Spring has passed,
And the white robes of summer
Are being aired
On fragrant Mount Kagu-
Beloved of the gods.
９ 小野小町
花の色は うつりにけりな いたづらに わが身世にふる ながめせしまに
I have loved in vain
and now my beauty fades
like these cherry blossoms
paling in the long rains of spring
that I gaze upon alone.
56. 和泉式部
あらざらむ この世のほかの 思い出に いまひとたびの 逢うこともがな
As I will soon be gone,
let me take one last memory
of this world with me–
May I see you once more,
may I see you now?
English Translation by Peter MacMillan
The Big Duck 