Left.
けふといへば岩間によどむ盃を待たぬ空まで花に酔ふらん
| kyō to ieba iwama ni yodomu sakazuki o matanu sora made hana ni youran |
Talking of today, Caught in clefts between the rocks, yet The wine cups’ Not awaiting, even the skies seem Drunk on blossom. |
149
Right (Win).
花の色は入日を殘す木のもとに春も暮れゆく三日月の空
| hana no iro wa irihi o nokosu ki no moto ni haru mo kureyuki mika tsuki no sora |
The blossoms’ hues Have caught the setting sun, while Beneath the trees Springtime dusk draws on, A crescent moon within the sky. |
150
Both teams have no particular comments to make about the other’s poem.
Shunzei remarks, ‘Both poems are of similar quality, as has been mentioned by the gentlemen present, however, the Left’s poem is clearly in the spirit of “With blossom the heavens are drunk, in the season of plentiful peaches.” (A well known Chinese poem composed by Sugawara no Michzane.) But the Right’s “Springtime dusk draws on, a crescent moon” captures the light better, I think. Thus, it seems to be the winner.’