A mid-Heian woman poet, daughter of a captain of the Right Palace Guards, from whose office she took her name. She served the consort of Emperor Daigo and took part in palace poetry contests of the mid-tenth century. The Tales of Yamato recount her affairs with Fujiwara no Atsutada, Morosuke and Asatada and with Prince Motoyoshi. About ten of her poems survive in imperial anthologies. Her Hyakunin Isshu poem turns reproach on its head: forgotten herself, she fears for the life of the man who swore before the gods never to forget her.
忘らるる 身をば思はず 誓ひてし
人の命の 惜しくもあるかな
Wasuraruru mi oba omowazu chikaiteshi / hito no inochi no oshiku mo aru kana
That I am forgotten by you, I do not mind at all. But you swore before the gods, and I cannot help fearing that your life will be forfeit for that broken vow.