Left.
逢ひ見じと思かたむる中なれやかく解けがたき下紐の関
| aimiji to omoikatamuru naka nare ya kaku tokegataki shimohimo no seki |
Never to meet Has she hardened her heart – Is that to be our bond? As hard to undo as The barrier at Shitahimo! |
Lord Suetsune
1005
Right (Win).
恋しともかくは人にも知られなんと思ふ心や文字の関守
| koishitomo kaku wa hito ni mi shirarenan to omou kokoro ya moji no sekimori |
The letters for love, should I write, would she my feelings Then understand, I Wonder? Does her heart have A barrier warden at Moji? |
The Supernumerary Master of the Empress’ Household Office
1006
The Right state: ‘hardened her heart’ (omoikatamuru) is grating on the ear. The Left state: the Right’s poem has no faults to indicate.
In judgement: regardless of whether the Left’s poem sounds poor or not, having both ‘hardened’ (katamuru) and ‘hard’ (kataki) is a fault. So, ‘a barrier warden at Moji’ (moji no sekimori) wins.