Sent to someone who had served the empress of former Emperor Ichijō, who gone to Hyūga province.
あかねさす日にむかひても思ひいでよみやこはしのぶながめすらんと
| akane sasu Fi ni mukaFitemo omoFi’ideyo miyako Fa sinobu nagame suran to | Shining madder red Toward the sun have you made your way, but O, remember, To recall the capital, and Turn your gaze that way… |
Her Majesty, the Empress
Round Twelve
Left
うつり行く花の下道跡もなしながめも白き春の山風
| utsuriyuku hana no shita michi ato mo nashi nagame mo shiroki haru no yamakaze | The shifting Blossom on the paths beneath Leaves no footprints there; My gaze with whiteness filled By spring’s breezes in the mountains. |
Dōchin
23
Right (Win)
身にかへておもふもくるし桜花さかぬみ山に宿もとめてん
| mi ni kaete omou mo kurushi sakurabana sakanu miyama ni yado mo tometen | It should be me instead, I think, but even that brings pain; Where cherry blossoms Fail to bloom, deep within the mountains Should I make my home. |
Dharma Master Nyokan
24
The Left’s poem does not sound poor, but has ‘gaze with whiteness’—a long time ago, Lay Priest Toshinari repeatedly said that it is not appropriate to compose about looking at something specific using ‘gaze’. The initial and concluding section of the Right’s poem sound fine—it should win.
