Tag Archives: ause

Horikawa-in enjo awase 20

あふせをば流れてとこそたのめしかいかにとだにも音なしのたき

ause oba
nagarete to koso
tanomeshi ka
ika ni to dani mo
otonashi no taki
Our meeting, like the rapids,
Will flow on—can I
Trust in that?
However much they seem
The silenced cataract of Otonashi…

Lady Ki
39

In reply.

すみわぶる名をながさじとつつむまにしばしよどむぞ音なしの滝

sumiwaburu
na no nagasaji to
tsutsumu ma ni
shibashi yodomu zo
otonashi no taki
Living on in sorrow and
Letting no word of it flow out—
Thus wrapped up
Briefly stilled has been
The cataract of Otonashi.

Supernumerary Minor Captain Morotoki
40

Horikawa-in Enjo Awase 12

つらしともいざやいかがはいはし水あふせまだきにたゆる心は

tsurashi to mo
iza ya ikaga wa
iwashimizu
ause madaki ni
tayuru kokoro wa
How cruel!
Why as
Spring waters rushing from the rocks did
Our meeting swiftly
Did you wish to end?

Kazusa, in service to the Empress
23

In reply

世世ふともたえじとぞ思ふ神がきの岩ねをくぐる水の心は

yo yo futomo
taeji to zo omou
kamigaki no
iwane o kuguru
mizu no kokoro wa
Age upon age may pass, yet
Never shall we end, I feel, as from
The sacred precinct’s
Rocky roots flow
Waters—that is my heart!

24

Horikawa-in enjo awase 8

数ならで世に住江のみをつくしいつを待つともなき身なりけり

kazu narade
yo ni sumie no
mi o tsukushi
itsu o matsu tomo
nakimi narikeri
Countless are
The generations spent at Sumie, with
The channel buoys: exhausted
What should I await but
To be dead.

Master of the Left Capital Office Toshiyori
15

In reply

ながれてもあふせは絶えじ住江の身をつくしてもくちはててなん

nagaretemo
ause wa taeji
sumie no
mi o tsukushitemo
kuchihatetenan
Flowing on, yet
The rapids’ meetings will not cease;
At Sumie with
The channel buoys, you may be exhausted, but
Would you rot away…

Kazusa, in service to the Empress
16

A picture of channel markers in the sea.
Channel buoys. Image by Claudia Thorn from Pixabay

Love VII: 16

Left.
つれなしと人をぞさらに思ひ河逢ふ瀬を知らぬ身を恨ても

tsurenashi to
hito o zo sara ni
omoigawa
ause o shiranu
mi o uramitemo
How cruel
She is, I ever feel,
My thoughts a river;
No rushed meetings between us –
I hate myself for that, and yet…

Lord Kanemune
991

Right (Win).
遥なる程とぞ聞し衣川かた敷く袖の名こそ有けれ

harukanaru
hodo to zo kikishi
koromogawa
katashiku sode no
na koso arikere
Far, far away
Lies, I have heard,
The River Robe:
For my single spread sleeve
How apt that name is!

Lord Takanobu
992

The Right state: we find the Left’s poem unconvincing. The Left state: the Right’s poem lacks any faults.

In judgement: in the Left’s poem, ‘my thoughts a river’ (omoigawa) is certainly not unconvincing. The latter section of the Right’s poem sounds fine. It should win.