Composed on the conception of falling leaves.
たつた山ふもとの里はとほけれどあらしのつてにもみぢをぞみる
| tatutayama Fumoto no sato Fa toFokeredo arasi no tute ni momidi wo zo miru | Tatsuta Mountain From this estate in the foothills Lies far away, yet The storm wind’s actions mean I see scarlet leaves! |
Hōribe no Narinaka
Composed on drizzle, for a notebook match held at the residence of Fujiwara no Chikako, Junior Second Rank.
しぐれつつかつちるやまのもみぢ葉をいかにふくよのあらしなるらん
| siguretutu katu tiru yama no momidiba wo ika ni fuku yo no arashi naruran | Constant drizzle falls All over the mountain’s scattered Scarlet leaves, so It may as well blow through the world: The storming wind! |
Master of the Palace Repairs Office Akisue
Left
霜がれの枝となわびそ白雪を花にやとひてみれどもあかず
| shimogare no eda to na wabi so shirayuki o hana ni ya toite miredomo akazu | For the frost-burned Branches, grieve not, for White snows As blossom will visit them, and The sight will never sate. |
131
Right
嵐ふく山下里にふる雪はとくむめの花咲くかとぞ見る
| arashi fuku yamashitazato ni furu yuki wa toku mume no hana saku ka to zo miru | The storm wind blows Upon the village ‘neath the mountains, where Fallen snow, Long since, had plum blossom Made seem to bloom? |
132
A poem composed by the deceased Emperor on the occasion of a visit to the Yoshino Palace.
見吉野乃 山下風之 寒久尓 為當也今夜毛 我獨宿牟
み吉野の山のあらしの寒けくにはたや今夜も我が独り寝む
| miyosino no yama no arasi no samukeku ni pata ya koyopi mo wa ga pitori nemu | Though in fair Yoshino The storm-winds off the mountains Feel so chill, Yet again tonight Will I sleep alone? |
Emperor Monmu (683-707; r. 697-707)
文武
Left (Win).
思ひあまりながむる空の掻き曇り月さへ我を厭ひつるかな
| omoFi’amari nagamuru sora no kakikumori tuki saFe ware wo itoFituru kana |
Filled full with love The sky on which I turn my gaze Is drowned in darkness; Even the moon from me Does shy! |
The Consultant Middle Captain 宰相中将
[Minamoto no Kuninobu 源国信]
25
Right.
嵐吹く夜寒の里の寝覚めにはいとど人こそ恋ひしかりけれ
| arasi Fuku yo samu no sato no nezame ni Fa itodo Fito koso koFisikarikere |
Stom winds rage Round my night-chilled home; Starting from sleep How much more do I love her now… |
The Minister of Justice 刑部卿
[Minamoto no Akinaka 源顕仲]
26
Left (Tie).
足引の山路の秋になる袖はうつろふ人のあらしなりけり
| ashihiki no yamaji no aki ni naru sode wa utsurou hito no arashi narikeri |
Leg wearying Mountain trails in autumn Have my sleeves become, For she fades from my life, as A departing storm… |
Lord Sada’ie.
971
Right.
この世には吉野の山の奧にだにありとはつらき人に知られじ
| kono yo ni wa yoshino no yama no oku ni dani ari to wa tsuraki hito ni shirareji |
Within this world, were I In the Yoshino mountains’ Heart, even so That cruel One would know it not! |
Jakuren.
972
The Right state: the Left’s poem does not refer to a specific mountain – we wonder whether this is acceptable? In addition, ‘in autumn have my sleeves’ (aki ni naru sode) and ‘she…as a storm’ (hito no arashi) is difficult to understand. The Left state: the Right’s poem has no faults to indicate.
In judgement: in connection with the criticism made of the Left’s poem, I do not feel that it is always essential to refer to a specific mountain. The other matters are, indeed, difficult to understand. The underlying sense of the Right’s poem seems overly pretentious. It is reminiscent of the tales of Boyi and Shuqi, or of Jie Zhitui, and Mount Shouyang and Mount Mian. Really, it does put me in mind of the Four White-Headed Recluses of Mount Shang, where it says, ‘They emerged due to the plans of Zhang Liang, made for Huidi, who said, “Though I may lie down with the greybeards, enjoying Mount Shang myself, all, in the end, are people under Zhang Liang.”’ It is extremely difficult, in the end, to make these sentiments relevant to our own land. Thus, I find it inappropriate to accept the content of the Right’s poem. The Left’s poem has its faults, too, so cursorily, I make this round a tie.