Left (Win).

星合の空の光となる物は雲井の庭に照らす灯し火

hoshiai no sora no hikari to naru mono wa kumoi no niwa ni terasu tomoshibi

The stars meeting in The sky is lit By The Palace gardens’ Shining torches.

A Servant Girl.

321

Right.

七夕は雲の上より雲の上に心を分けて嬉しかるらん

tanabata wa kumo no ue yori kumo no ue ni kokoro o wakete ureshikaruran

At Tanabata Above the heavens’ clouds, and Above the clouds on earth Between them is the heart divided In joy, no doubt!

Nobusada.

322

The Right state that the Left’s poem has no faults. The Left, on the other hand, say, ‘The Right’s poem seems to have very little of celebration about it. In addition, the expression “Above the heavens’ clouds, and above the clouds on earth” (kumo no ue yori kumo no ue ni) seems to have reversed the proper sense.’ (‘Above the clouds’ was a standard euphemism for the palace, and by association, the Emperor. Putting him in a secondary position here was perceived as a fault.)

Shunzei’s judgement: ‘“Above the heavens’ clouds, and above the clouds on earth” can be criticised, I think, for repeating the same phrase twice. And, what might one make of it having “reversed the proper sense”? The Left’s poem is faultless. The Right’s does, indeed, lack a conception of celebration, so the Left, again, win this round.’