Composed for a folding screen with a picture suited to a month of the year upon it.
あふさかの関のし水に影見えて今やひくらんもち月のこま
| aFusaka no seki no simidu ni kage miete ima ya Fikuran motiduki no koma | In Ausaka Barrier’s spring waters Are they reflected; Is it now they’re taken hence, The colts of Mochizuki? |
Ki no Tsurayuki
Left (Win)
主やたれ見ぬ世の色を写しをく筆のすさびにうかぶ面影
| nushi ya tare minu yo no iro o utsushioku fude no susabi ni ukabu omokage |
Who painted you? Unseen in this present world, hues, Reflected by A comforting brush, Bring her visage before me… |
Lord Sada’ie
1105
Right
水茎の跡に堰きをく瀧津瀬をまことに落とすわが涙かな
| mizukuki no ato ni sekioku taki tsu se o makoto ni otosu wa ga namida kana |
Faint brush-strokes Traces place a barrier, but A cataract in torrents Truly drops – My tears… |
Jakuren
1106
The Right state: the Left’s poem is rather casual about the person whom he loves. The Left state: the Right’s poem has no faults we can identify.
In judgement: the Gentlemen of the Right have stated that the Left seems somewhat blasé about the object of his affections, and this is certainly true. The Right’s poem, though, says that the poet is looking at a painting on something like a folding screen, where a waterfall is depicted, and he weeps in reality – this seems like he was simply moved by the painting. I feel that there is a stronger conception of love in seeing a painting and fondly recalling the face of one now long gone, than there is in being moved by the sight of a mountain stream.
Left.
逢ひ見じと思かたむる中なれやかく解けがたき下紐の関
| aimiji to omoikatamuru naka nare ya kaku tokegataki shimohimo no seki |
Never to meet Has she hardened her heart – Is that to be our bond? As hard to undo as The barrier at Shitahimo! |
Lord Suetsune
1005
Right (Win).
恋しともかくは人にも知られなんと思ふ心や文字の関守
| koishitomo kaku wa hito ni mi shirarenan to omou kokoro ya moji no sekimori |
The letters for love, should I write, would she my feelings Then understand, I Wonder? Does her heart have A barrier warden at Moji? |
The Supernumerary Master of the Empress’ Household Office
1006
The Right state: ‘hardened her heart’ (omoikatamuru) is grating on the ear. The Left state: the Right’s poem has no faults to indicate.
In judgement: regardless of whether the Left’s poem sounds poor or not, having both ‘hardened’ (katamuru) and ‘hard’ (kataki) is a fault. So, ‘a barrier warden at Moji’ (moji no sekimori) wins.
Left (Tie).
先の世に契らざりける身の憂さや逢坂山の君が関守
| saki no yo ni chigirazarikeru mi no usa ya ausakayama no kimi ga sekimori |
In a previous life We made no vow – Is that why all’s so cruel? On the Mount of Meeting Hill Barrier wardens stand before you! |
Lord Kanemune
1003
Right.
頼めてもまだ越えぬまは相坂の関も名こその心地こそすれ
| tanometemo mada koenu ma wa ausaka no seki mo na koso no kokochi koso sure |
However much I hope While I have yet to cross Meeting Hill’s Barrier, of Nakoso does it Just remind me! |
Ietaka
1004
The Right state: we wonder about the use of ‘Barrier wardens stand before you’ (kimi ga sekimori). The Left state: the Right’s poem lacks any faults to indicate.
In judgement: both Left and Right’s ‘Meeting Hills’ lack faults or merits. Thus, the round ties.
Left (Tie).
身に堪へぬ思ひを須磨の関据ゑて人に心をなどとどむらん
| mi ni taenu omoi o suma no seki suete hito ni kokoro ni nado todomuran |
Unable to endure This love; at Suma By the barrier am I placed; Within my heart why Does she remain so firmly? |
Lord Sada’ie
999
Right.
逢坂の関のこなたに名をとめてこれより過ぐる嘆せよとや
| ausaka no seki no konata ni na o tomete kore yori suguru nageki seyo to ya |
On Meeting Hill Barrier’s inner side Must I stay, they say; Ever pass your days In grief! Is that your only message? |
Lord Takanobu
1000
The Right state: ‘This love; at Suma’ (omoi o suma) sounds antiquated. In addition, how can one be placed by the barrier? The Left state: in the Right’s poem what is the ‘passing grief’ (suguru nageki)?
In judgement: the Gentlemen of the Right’s criticism of wondering ‘how one can be placed by the barrier’ suggests they have never been installed as Barrier Wardens! Both ‘at Suma by the barrier’ and ‘Meeting Hill Barrier’ are of the same quality. The round should tie.
Left.
逢ふ事は苗代水を引き止めて通しはてぬや小山田の關
| au koto wa nawashiro mizu o hikitomete tōshihatenu ya oyamada no seki |
Can a meeting, like The waters round the rice seedlings Be stopped In their endless flow Past the Oyamada Barrier? |
Kenshō
997
Right (Win).
衣手は清見が關にあらねども絶ゆるよもなき涙也けり
| koromode wa kiyomi ga seki ni aranedomo tayuru yo mo naki namida narikeri |
My sleeves as The Barrier at Kiyomi Are not, yet Without cease Are my tears… |
Lord Tsune’ie.
998
The Right state: we are unfamiliar with the expression ‘Oyamada Barrier’ (oyamada no seki). The Left state: it sounds as if it is tears that are ceaseless at the Barrier at Kiyomi.
In judgement: the Left’s poem is stylistically tasteful, but with only ‘can a meeting, like the waters round the rice seedlings’ (au koto wa nawashiro mizu) the conception of love is weak is it not? The Right’s poem metaphorically has tears ceaseless at the Barrier at Kiyomi, and with the ta present, I accept the Left’s point to a certain extent, but this type of thing is not unusual in metaphorical poems. In addition, there is little reason to imagine the waters round the rice-seedlings being blocked. As it has a stronger focus on Love, the Right wins.
夏衣たちきる物を逢坂の関の清水の寒くもあるかな
| natugoromo tatikiru mono wo aFusaka no seki no simidu no samuku mo aru kana |
Summer garb Is sewn to wear, but At Meeting Hill, The barrier’s fresh water is Still chill, indeed! |
Written on the rocks by the waterfall at Provisional Middle Councillor Atsutada’s mountain retreat at Nishi-sakamoto.
音羽川せき入れて落す瀧つせに人の心のみえもするかな
| otoFagaFa seki’irete otosu taki tu se ni Fito no kokoro no mie mo suru kana |
On Otowa River A barrier is placed to drop A cataract in torrents And, your heart, perhaps, Reveal! |
Ise
伊勢
At around the the time the Kanpyō Emperor took Holy Orders, ladies were only permitted to serve him from beyond his curtains, and being unable to approach him closely, she wrote this and fastened it to his screen.
立ちよらは影踏む許近けれど誰かなこその関をすゑけん
| tatiyoraba kage Fumu bakari tikakeredo tare ka nakoso no seki o suweken |
If I were to approach, I would simply step upon your shadow; I am so close, yet Who is it Nakoso – Come not – That barrier has placed between us? |
The Kohachijō Miyasudokoro 小八条御息所
[Minamoto no Sadako 源貞子]
鹿の音の音羽の山に音せぬは妻に今宵や逢坂の関
| shika no ne no otowa no yama ni otosenu wa tsuma ni koyoi ya ausaka no seki |
The stag cries In the Otowa mountains Without a sound; Is his mate tonight at The barrier of Meeting Hill? |
Jakuren