A poem with two envoys, composed in respectful response to Tachiyama.
朝日さし そがひに見ゆる 神ながら 御名に帯ばせる 白雲の 千重を押し別け 天そそり 高き立山 冬夏と 別くこともなく 白栲に 雪は降り置きて 古ゆ あり来にければ こごしかも 岩の神さび たまきはる 幾代経にけむ 立ちて居て 見れども異し 峰高み 谷を深みと 落ちたぎつ 清き河内に 朝さらず 霧立ちわたり 夕されば 雲居たなびき 雲居なす 心もしのに 立つ霧の 思ひ過ぐさず 行く水の 音もさやけく 万代に 言ひ継ぎゆかむ 川し絶えずは
asapi sasi
sogapi ni miyuru
kamu nagara
mina ni obasesu
sirakumo no
tipe wo osiwake
ama sosori
takaki tatiyama
puyu natu to
waku koto mo naku
sirotape ni
yuki pa puri okite
inisipe yu
arikinikereba
kogosikamo
ipa no kamusabi
tama kiparu
ikuyo penikemu
tatiwite
miredomo ayasi
minedakami
tani wo pukami to
otitagitu
kiyoki ka puti ni
asa sarazu
kiri tati watari
yupu sareba
kumowi tanabiki
kumowi nasu
kokoro mo sino ni
tatu kiri no
omopi sugusazu
yuku midu no
woto mo sayakeku
yoroduyo ni
ipitugi yukamu
kapa si taezu wa |
The morning sun shines
At my back,and
Divine
Your great name links:
Clouds of white
In a thousand layers, you pierce, and
Tower into the heavens,
Tall Tachiyama!
In winter and, in summer both
Indistinguishably are you
Clad in mulberry white
Fallen drifts of snow;
Since ancient days
Ever has been your estate,
Fastened round with
Crags divine；
‘til all souls end
Have countless ages passed!
Standing here,
I see you, yet am awed by
Your lofty peak and
Valley’s deep, where
Plunge seething cataracts of
Waters pure to pools where
Morning never leaves –
Mists rise and roll across, and
When the evening comes
Clouds trail in and
Cover all,
Even, with sadness, my heart, so
The rising mists
Never leave my thoughts, and of
Your running waters’
Clear, pure sound
Through ten thousand ages
Will I ever tell
Unending as a river’s flow… |
Ōtomo no Ikenushi
大伴池主
ひさかたの天の探女が岩船の泊てし高津はあせにけるかも
pisakata no
ama no sagume ga
ipapune no
patesi takatu pa
asenikeru kamo |
From the eternal
Heavens, Sagume’s
Boat of stone
Came to rest at Takatsu,
Now all turned to shallows! |
Tsunomaro
角麻呂
Left (Win).
なぐさめし月にもはてはねをぞ泣く戀やむなしき空に滿つらん
nagusameshi
tsuki ni mo hate wa
ne o zo naku
koi ya munashiki
sora ni mitsuran |
Comforted was I once by
The moon, but at the end
My sobs
For love, the vast spaces of
The heavens do seem to fill… |
Kenshō
901
Right.
月よなをくまこそなけれかきくらす戀の涙は雨と降れども
tsuki yo nao
kuma koso nakare
kakikurasu
koi no namida wa
ame to furedomo |
O, Moon! Before
You there is not a cloud, yet
Dimmed
With tears for love
The rain does fall… |
Lord Takanobu.
902
The Right state: we find no faults to mention in the Left’s poem. The Left state: in the Right’s poem ‘O, Moon! Before’ (tsuki ya nao) is somewhat grating on the ear. In addition, the final section is clichéd.
In judgement: in the Left’s poem, ‘The moon, but at the end’ (tsuki ni mo hate wa) is certainly elegant. The Right’s poem begin’s ‘O, Moon!’ (tsuki yo) but lacks anything connected to it at the end. Thus, the Left must win.
Envoy.
天地のともに久しく言ひ継げとこの奇し御魂敷かしけらしも
ametuti no
tomo ni pisasiku
ipituge to
kono kusi mitama
sikasikarasi mo |
The Heavens and the Earth
Both eternally
Will tell it:
These mysterious sacred stones
Have been enshrinéd here! |
The above facts were related by Takebe no Ushimaro, a man from Ichisato no shima in the district of Naka.
A poem to correct one whose feelings had gone astray.
ひさかたの天道は遠しなほなほに家に帰りて業を為まさに
pisakata no
amadi pa toposi
naponapo ni
ipe ni kaperite
nari o simasa ni
|
The eternal
Road to the heavens is long, indeed;
Meekly
Return home, and
Get to work! |
Yamanoue no Okura
山上憶良
Topic unknown.
いつしかと暮を待つ間の大空は曇るさへこそ嬉しかりけれ
itusika to
kure o matu ma no
oFozora wa
kumoru sae koso
uresikarikere |
So impatiently
Have I waited for the dusk, that
The heavens
Very clouding
Is my joy! |
Anonymous
Topic unknown.
大空にわが袖ひとつあらなくにかなしく露や分きて置くらん
ōzora ni
wa ga sode hitotsu
aranaku ni
kanashiku tsuyu ya
wakiteokuran |
Seen from the heavens
My sleeves alone
Are there not, yet
Why does this sorrowful dewfall
Seem to choose them to drop upon? |
Anonymous
Left (Tie).
七夕は今日貸す琴は何ならで逢ふにのみこそ心ひくらめ
tanabata wa
kyō kasu koto wa
nani narade
au ni nomi koso
kokoro hikurame |
For the Weaver Maid
That this day the zithers play
Means nothing;
‘Tis her meeting, alone,
That plucks upon her heart. |
Lord Ari’ie.
317
Right (Tie).
薫物の匂ひも貸しつ七夕に思ふ思を空に知れとて
takimono no
nioi mo kashitsu
tanabata ni
omou omoi o
sora ni shire tote |
Incense
Scent I proffer
To the Weaver Maid;
The burning thoughts within my heart,
Let it carry to the heavens! |
Lord Takanobu.
318
The Right state that ‘the expression “alone” (nomi) in Left’s poem is grating,’ while the Left have no particular criticisms of the Right.
Shunzei simply remarks, ‘The Left has a zither plucking the heart; the Right, the scent of burning incense carrying thoughts. Equally good word association. A tie.’
Left (Win).
呉竹に過ぐる秋風さ夜更けて奠るほどにや星合の空
kuretake ni
suguru akikaze
sayo fukete
matsuru hodo ni ya
hoshiai no sora |
When the black bamboo
Is brushed by autumn breeze, and
Night falls,
Is it time to celebrate?
Stars meeting in the heavens… |
Lord Kanemune.
315
Right.
九重に今日奠るをば七夕のたゞ一夜にも嬉しとや見る
kokonoe ni
kyō matsuru oba
tanabata no
tada hito yo ni mo
ureshi to ya miru |
Within the Ninefold Palace walls
This day we celebrate,
The lovers on
Just a single night:
Are they pleased, I wonder? |
The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.
316
The Right state, ‘“Is it time to celebrate? Stars meeting in the heavens” (matsuru hodo ni ya hoshiai no sora) – the one does not seem to follow from the other. The Left wonder, ‘why we have an annual rite describe as “a single night” (tada hito yo), and not “but one night a year” (toshi ni hito yo)?’
Shunzei merely remarks, ‘“Is it time to celebrate? Stars meeting in the heavens” – this certainly does follow on, and there is nothing wrong with it. The point about “a single night” is well made. The Left wins.’
'Simply moving and elegant'