During the first half of the 9th century, Heian poetry was an imitation of Chinese poetry, and playing an important and rather prominent role in Japanese society. It was integeral to the many and various official functions of the court and symbolized the authors' cultivation as well as the emperor's status as foremost patron of the arts.

The Japanese poetry durning this time (Waka) all but disappeared from public life. The names of the waka poets of the early Heian years are no longer known, if there were any. However, although Waka while not prominent in the early Heian years began to undergo "significant changes behind the scenes." (Camebridge History of Japan vol. 2 pg. 431)

During the 7th and 8th centuries native poets generated "impressive long compostions" known as choka which were poems of "great lyrical intensity and technical complexity, notably elegies and encomiums of Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, who seems to have served as an official bard."

But by the early 9th century his services were no longer in demand.

Waka's reappearance in public began around the middle of the ninth century. The return of waka was associated with many other developments such as the "general revival and refinement of traditional interests and values and the resurgence of the hereditary principle, which diminished the utility of a Chinese education."

Here is an example of a formal waka taken from the Man'yoshu:

sugaru naku How long must I wait
aki no hagihara To see again the traveler
asa tachite Who leaves this morning
tabi yuku hito o Journeying where wild bees hum
itsu to ka matan In autumn bush-clover fields



*My source of info comes all from the Cambridge History of Japan Volum 2 pp 432 - 433.

It's brief, although there was more, I know but I am sort of limited on time. I apologies *offers apology cookies*