Left
ひとのみることやくるしきをみなへしあきぎりにのみたちかくるらむ
| hito no miru koto ya kurushiki ominaeshi akigiri ni nomi tachikakururamu | For man to gaze on you, Is it so painful, O, Maidenflower, That simply in the autumn mists You must hide yourself away? |
Tadamine
13[1]
Right
とりてみばはかなからんやをみなへしそでにつつめるしらつゆのたま
| torite miba hakanakaran ya ominaeshi sode ni tsutsumeru shiratsuyu no tama | If I pick and look How fleeting are Upon a maidenflower, Enveloped in my sleeves Silver dewdrop pearls. |
14
[1] KKS IV: 235
Left (Tie).
生けらばと誓ふその日も猶來ずはあたりの雲を我と眺めよ
| ikeraba to chikau sono hi mo nao kozu wa atari no kumo o ware to nagameyo |
Had I lived…think on That day you vowed, and Yet came not; On the clouds close by Gaze and think of me… |
679
Right.
言の葉にしばしもとまる露の命かけんかけじは君にまかせつ
| koto no ha ni shibashi mo tomaru tsuyu no inochi kaken kakeji wa kimi ni makasetsu |
Words that Remain so briefly – A dewdrop life – To give them, or give them not, That I leave to you! |
680
The Gentlemen of the Right state: there is nothing particularly at fault with the Left’s poem. The Gentlemen of the Left state: the Right’s poem is not that good.
Shunzei’s judgement: mentioning ‘the clouds close by’ (atari no kumo) and ‘remain so briefly –as does life’ (shibashi mo tomaru inochi) gives both poems a sense of pathos. I would say they are of the same quality.
Left (Win).
行末はあひ見て後や知らるべき今日はその日と契るばかりぞ
| yukusue wa aimite nochi ya shirarubeki kyō wa sono hi to chigiru bakari zo |
What will become of us? Upon our meeting Will we know it? Today is that day and Our only promise! |
675
Right.
待てと言ひしその言の葉にかゝりつゝ露の命も消ぬとを知れ
| mate to iishi sono koto no ha ni kakaritsutsu tsuyu no inochi mo kienu to wo shire |
‘Just wait!’ you said, and To those words I am clinging, but A dewdrop life Can vanish – you should know! |
The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.
676
The Right have nothing particular to say about the Left’s poem. The Left simply say that the Right’s poem contains sentiments heard many times before [tsune ni kikinaretaru yoshi].
Shunzei’s judgement: The Left’s poem is nothing remarkable, but I feel it is a little gentler [ima sukoshi otonashikuhaberu]. I must make it the winner.
Left (Win).
葛城や夜の契りは空しきに物思ふ橋はなどや途絶えぬ
| kuzuragi ya yoru no chigiri wa munashiki ni mono’omou hashi wa nado ya todaenu |
Just as Kuzuragi, A night’s vow Is empty, yet My longing’s end: Why does it never come? |
673
Right.
頼むるに露の命をかけつればこの言の葉ぞ置き所なき
| tanomuru ni tsuyu no inochi o kaketsureba kono koto no ha zo okidokoro naki |
Trustworthy for A dewdrop life’s Length, but These words of yours Will find no place here… |
674
The Gentlemen of the Right state: the Left’s poem contains a significant amount of less than desirable diction. The Gentlemen of the Left state: we have nothing in particular to mention.
Shunzei’s judgement: while the Left’s ‘Why does it never come?’ (nado ya todaenu) is certainly undesirable, the initial section is most tasteful [yū]. The Right’s ‘dewdrop life long’ (tsuyu no inochi o kaku) ‘words’ (koto no ha) seems hackneyed, so still, ‘Kuzuragi Bridge’ should stand as the winner.