"Because I don't want to yield, I'll keep on running even if I'm barefoot"

The second poet of the Hyakunin Isshu is Empress Jitô. She was one of several daughters Empreror Tenji (poet #1) that he had his brother, Prince Ôama, marry. In the brief civil war following Tenji's death, she marched with Ôama, who won the throne and ruled as Emperor Tenmu. In the succession confusion following Tenmu's death, she took control of the imperial administration, and then the next year the throne herself, naming her son Kusabake crown prince over the sons of her sister wives. Kusabake soon died, so Jitô had to wait until his son, her grandson, was old enough for her to abdicate the throne to him -- though she continued to control the government till her death five years later.

Her name before her accession was Unonosarara.

Clearly, not a woman to be trifled with.

春過ぎて 夏来にけらし 白妙の 衣ほすてふ 天の香具山
haru sugite natsu kinikerashi shirotae no koromo hosu chô ama no kaguyama		Springtime is over and summer, it seems, has come --     it's said they air out pure-white robes of mulberry on heavenly Mount Kagu.

---L.