Left (Tie).

小雨降る葛飾早稲を刈るまゝに民の袖さへうるほひにけり

kosame furu katsushika wase o karu mama ni tami no sode sae uruoinikeri

Showers fall in Katsushika; early ripened rice Reaping, Even the peasants’ sleeves Are damp.

Kenshō.

371

Right (Tie).

小萩咲く片山陰に日晩の鳴すさびたる村雨のそら

kohagi saku katayamakage ni higurashi no nakisu sabitaru murasame no sora

Bush clover blooming In the mountain’s shade; The sundown cicadas Sing intermittently To the showery skies.

Jakuren.

372

Neither team has any criticisms to make.

Shunzei say, ‘The style and construction of both poems is superb, though the Left’s is particularly archaic in tone, and thus using mama ni in the central section is somewhat weak, is it not? Surely, “Whilst reaping” (karu nae ni) would have been a better fit! The Right’s simple conclusion of “showery skies” (murasame no sora) is particularly effective. However, the Left, too, with “even the peasants’ sleeves” (tami no sode sae) shows a fine spirit. The two poems are a match and tie.’