Left (Tie).

大井川なを山陰に鵜飼舟いとひかねたる夜半の月影

ōikawa nao yamakage ni ukaibune itoikanetaru yowa no tsukikage

Upon the Ōi River, Yet beneath the mountain’s shadow are Cormorant boats, Impossible to avoid, Within the midnight moonlight.

A Servant Girl.

225

Right (Tie).

松浦河七瀬の淀を鵜飼舟くだしもはてゞ明けぬこの夜は

matsuragawa nanase no yodo o ukaibune kudashi mo hatede akenu kono yo wa

Down Matsura River’s Seven swifts and stills The cormorant boats, Descent unfinished, Find dawn ending night.

The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.

226

The Right have two criticisms of the Left’s poem: ‘First, are cormorants used on moonlit nights? Moreover, why continue on from the “mountain’s shadow” (yamakage) with a moonlit night?’ In turn, the Left query, ‘Why continue on from “seven swifts and stills” (nanase no yodo) with cormorant boats?’

Shunzei comments, ‘The defects of the Left’s poem have already been adequately identified by the gentlemen of the other team. The Right’s sequence “Seven swifts and stills the cormorant boats” certainly seems poor. Furthermore, “dawn ending night” (akenu kono yo wa) has a somewhat pretentious air. There is nothing much to distinguish between them, and the round should tie.’