Round Nineteen

Left (Win)

くさまくらおなじたびねのそでにまたよはのしぐれもやどはかりけり

kusamakura onaji tabine no sode ni mata yowa no shigure mo yado wa karikeri

Needing a grassy pillow When travelling just the same as I, dozing I find my sleeves drenched even more, For the midnight shower, too, Has found lodging.

Kojijū
87

Right

いほりさすやまぢはすぎぬはつしぐれふるさとまでやめぐりゆくらむ

iori sasu yamaji wa suginu hatsushigure furusato made ya meguriyukuramu

I put up my hut Upon the mountain path that you passed by, O, first shower! As far as my ancient home I wonder, will you make your way?

Lord Sanemori
88

The poem of the Left, saying ‘When travelling just the same as I dozing, / I find my sleeves drenched even more’ and then following this with ‘For the midnight shower, too, / Has found lodging’, has an extremely charming conception and configuration. In addition to the poem of the Right also having a charming conception, it begins with ‘O, first shower!’ and then continues, ‘As far as my ancient home’, which is an effective use of diction. Nevertheless, the conception of the Left’s poem is even better and it wins.