峯つづき花に心のとまりつつ雪もやられず志賀の山越
| mine tsuzuki hana ni kokoro no tomaritsutsu yuki mo yararezu shiga no yamagoe |
All along the peaks The blossoms in my heart Do rest, and There is no snow at all On the path across the Shiga Mountains. |
Tag Archives: blossoms
KKS I: 13
Eikyū hyakushu 28
Eikyū hyakushu 33
Asukai wakashū 928
Winter I: 18
Left (Tie).
花は猶その姿とも見え分る枯野は蟲の聲ぞ戀しき
| hana wa nao sono sugata tomo miewakaru kareno wa mushi no koe zo koshiki |
The blossoms are still By their simple shapes Revealed, but On this withered field the insects’ Cries are what I miss… |
515
Right.
秋の色の移ろふ野邊を來て見れば哀は枯れぬ物にぞ有ける
| aki no iro no utsurou nobe o kitemireba aware wa karenu mono ni zo arikeru |
Autumn’s hues Have faded from this field I see, but My sorrow is something Evergreen… |
516
The Right state that they are unable to understand [kokoro yukazu] the usage of ‘revealed’ (miewakaru) in the Left’s poem. The Left find no faults in the Right’s poem.
Shunzei’s judgement: The Left’s use of ‘revealed’ sounds appropriate [yoroshiku kikoehaberu] in this poem, and ‘on this withered field the insects’ (kareno wa mushi) is most tasteful [yū ni koso haberumere]. The conception of the Right’s ‘Autumn’s hues have faded from this field’ (aki no iro no utsurou nobe) where ‘sorrow is evergreen’ (aware wa karenu) is most moving, indeed; the Left, too, has a find conclusion to their poem, and so with both being heartfelt [kokoro utsurite], the round should tie.
Autumn I: 27
Left.
跡もなく今朝は野分に成にけりしどろに見えし素児が竹墻
| ato mo naku kesa wa nowaki ni narinikeri shidoro ni mieshi sugo ga takegaki |
Not a trace remains, after This morning, when the gales Came, of The jumbled sight of Peasants’ bamboo fences. |
353
Right (Win).
思やるわが心まで萎れきぬ野分する夜の花の色いろ
| omoiyaru wa ga kokoro made shiborekinu nowakisuru yoru no hana no iroiro |
Pondering, Even my heart Has faded, following A night of galing, With the blossoms’ myriad hues… |
354
The Right remark tersely that the Left’s poem is ‘just about “peasants’ bamboo fences” (sugo ga takegaki)’, while the Left reply, ‘and what about “galing” (nowakisuru)?’
Shunzei’s judgement is that ‘the Right’s poem is not bad in form [utazama wa ashikarazaru], but “Gales” must be composed about the wind blowing upon the many blooms on the plains, and to think that the wind would go so far as to cause damage to “peasants’ bamboo fences” is inappropriate. In the Right’s poem, “galing” does not seem a particular fault. By including “even my heart” (wa ga kokoro made) a link is formed between blossoms and emotions [kokoro ni aru ni nitarubeshi]. The Right’s poem has the essence of the topic [hon’i naru ya], does it not? It must win.’
Autumn I: 26
Left.
百草の花もいかにか思ふらんあな情なの今朝の野分や
| momokusa no hana mo ika ni ka omouran ana nasakena no kesa no nowaki ya |
A myriad of grasses’ Bloom: o what To think? How heartless was The gale this morning! |
351
Right (Win).
吹亂る野分の風の荒ければ安き空なき花の色色
| fukimidaru nowaki no kaze no arakereba yasuki sora naki hana no iroiro |
Blown into confusion by The gale’s gusts So fierce; No respite to bloom For any of the blossoms! |
The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.
352
Neither Left nor Right can find anything to remark upon this round, and say as much.
Shunzei states, ‘“How heartless” (ana nasake na) is, indeed, an intriguing choice of words. The Right’s “blown into confusion” (fukimidaru) is reminiscent of the Tamakazura’s poem in Genji and all the more charming for it, is it not? Furthermore, the Left’s “blooms: o what” (hana mo ika ni ka) and the Right’s “no respite to bloom” (yasuki sora naki) are of equivalent quality, but the Left’s “myriad of grasses” lacks a linking term. Including “blown into confusion” makes the Right’s poem slightly superior, I would say.’
Autumn I: 19
Left.
鷹の子を手にも据へねど鶉鳴く淡津の原に今日も暮しつ
| taka no ko o te ni mo suenedo uzura naku awazu no hara ni kyō mo kurashitsu |
A hawklet On my arm have I not, yet The quails are crying On Awazu plain, as The day turns dark. |
337
Right.
秋といへば鶉鳴くなり原鹿の音をこそ花に任すれ
| aki to ieba uzura naku nari kohagiwara shika no ne o koso hana ni makasure |
Autumn is The quails crying, while From a field of fresh bush clover, The stags’ call, Summoned by the blossoms. |
338
The Right state they have no particular criticisms of the Left this round. The Left, however, remark that, ‘“Quails” do not have such a general reputation. The use of “summoned by the blossoms” (hana ni makasure) is also dubious.’
Shunzei remarks, ‘The Left’s poem would seem to be in the spirit of the popular song “A Hawklet”, except that here the poet lacks the hawklet and “on Awazu plain, the day turns dark” (awazu no hara ni kyō mo kurashitsu). I can only think that he has spent the entire day there wondering about hunting quail! I also feel that the poem’s whole construction is rather commonplace. The Right’s poem is, indeed, poetic, and were there an exemplar poem for the blossoms summoning “the stags’ call” (shika no ne), I would make it the winner. In its absence, the round ties.’
Summer II: 12
Left (Win).
袖のうちに半ば隱るゝ扇こそまだ出はてぬ月と見えけれ
| sode no uchi ni nakaba kakururu ōgi koso made idehatenu tsuki to miekere |
Within my sleeve A half-concealed Fan, The barely risen Moon to me recalls. |
263
Right.
恨みても散りにし花を尋ばや扇ぞ風のやどりなりける
| uramitemo chirinishi hana o tazuneba ya ōgi zo kaze no yadori narikeru |
I resent it, yet upon The fallen blossoms Would I pay a call; Within my fan, the breeze Has made its lodging. |
264
The Right find that the Left’s poem, ‘seems to have no problems,’ while the Left state that the Right’s is ‘extremely good.’
Shunzei judges, ‘The Left’s poem displays a fine use of expression. The Right’s poem is redolent the Kokinshu poem “Breeze’s lodging – Does anyone know it? Tell me! For I would go and curse it!”, but refers to already fallen blossoms. The gentlemen of the Left have pronounced the Right’s poem fine, but I feel the Left must win.’