Left.
むぐらはふ賤が垣根も色はへて光ことなる夕顔の花
| mugurawau shizu ga kakine mo irowaete hikari kotonaru yūgao no hana |
Creeping from the matted growth The peasant’s fence Shines with the fair hues Of a special light: Moonflower blooms. |
275
Right.
たそがれにまがひて咲ける花の名をゝちかた人や問はば答へむ
| tasogare ni magaite sakeru hana no na o ochikata hito ya towaba kotaemu |
In the dusk Entangled, blooming; The flowers’ name A distant stranger Were I to ask, would he reply? |
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The Right wonder whether the expression ‘shine with fair hues’ (irowayu) is quite proper. The Left complain that ‘in the poem “distant stranger/will I raise my voice” there is no mention of moonflowers.
Shunzei states, ‘In the Left’s poem, it might be acceptable to talk of the “fence’s hue” (kakine no iro), but “shines with the fair hues” (irowaete)is undesirable. As for the Right’s poem, the response to the “distant stranger” in the original poem contains the phrase ‘when in Spring’ (haru sareba). It is certainly not a reference to moonflowers. In Genji, the Prince sees some white blossoms, and mentions the “distant strangers”; his bodyguard hears and understands, saying, “Those are called moonflowers,” and this is no mistake, however, to refer to Genji so obliquely is poor. It does the work a disservice. Still, with the Left’s “shines with fair hues” it is difficult to determine a winner. A tie it is!”