Personal Grievances

Round One

Left

むかしとてみのおもひではなけれどもきみしのびねぞたえずなかるる

mukashi tote mi no omoide wa nakeredomo kimi shinobine zo taezu nakaruru

Bygone days— Memories of me then Have I none, yet Thinking fondly of my Lord I weep constantly.

Hyōenosuke
101

Right

いくよしもありへむものとしらぬみはうきもつらきもなにかなげかむ

iku yo shimo ariemu mono to shiranu mi wa uki mo tsuraki mo nanika nagekamu

However many ages I may live through I know not, so For the coldness and cruelties Why should I grieve so?

Lord Naganori
102

The configuration of the Left’s poem, beginning ‘Memories of me then / Have I none, yet’ appears elegant. The conception of self-effacingly not recalling oneself but thinking fondly of one’s former master seems sadly moving. The Right’s poem appears splendidly direct in its emotional stance. With that being said, the Right lacks clear source of grief, whereas the Left has its fond recollections, and thus I have to say it wins.