「古今集」 小野小町

The blossom's tint is washed away
By heavy showers of rain ;
My charms, which once I prized so much,
Are also on the wane,-
Both bloomed, alas! in vain.

花の色は　うつりにけりな いたづらに
我が身世にふる　ながめせしまに

「徒然草」 吉田兼好

Leisurely I face my inkstone all day long, and without
any particular object jot down the odds and ends that pass through
my mind, with a curious feeling that I am not sane.

つれづれなるままに、日ぐらし、硯に向かひて、心に映りゆくよしなしごとを、
そこはかとなく書きつくれば、あやしうこそもの狂ほしけれ。

「源氏物語」 紫式部

At the court of an emperor (he lived it matters not when)
there was among the many gentlewomen of the Wardrobe and chamber one,
who though she was not of very high rank was favoured far beyond
all the rest.

いづれの御時にか、女御・更衣あまた候ひ給ひける中に、いとやむごとなき際
にはあらぬが、すぐれて時めき給ふありけり。

「奥の細道」 松尾芭蕉

The passing days and months are eternal travellers in time.
The years that come and go are travellers too.

月日は百代の過客にして、行きかふ年も又旅人なり。

「方丈記」 鴨長明

Ceaselessly the river flows, and yet the water is never the same.

ゆく河の流れは絶えずして、しかも、もとの水にあらず。