Left.
をちこちにながめやかはす鵜飼舟闇を光の篝火の影
| ochikochi ni nagame ya kawasu ukaibune yami o hikari no kagaribi no kage |
Near and far My gaze goes back and forth; Cormorant boats Light the darkness with Fishing-fires’ glow. |
221
Right (Win).
鵜飼舟あはれとぞ見るものゝふの八十宇治川の夕闇の空
| ukaibune aware to zo miru mononofu no yaso ujigawa no yūyami no sora |
The cormorant boats Seem so keen! Warriors, Eighty in all, on Uji River, Beneath the darkening evening sky… |
222
The Right comment that, ‘In the Left’s poem, “light the darkness” (yami o hikari) does not seem that elegant an expression,’ while the Left can find no fault with the Right’s poem.
Shunzei agrees: ‘“Light the darkness with fishing-fires’ glow” (yami o hikari no kagaribi no kage) does not seem particularly satisfactory in sense. The Right’s “Eighty in all, on Uji River, beneath the darkening evening sky” (yaso ujigawa no yūyami no sora) is especially fine. There is no question but that it wins.’