Left.
宵の間の月待つ程の雲間より思はぬ影を見する稲妻
| yoi no ma no tsuki matsu hodo no kumoma yori omowanu kage o misuru inazuma |
In the early evening While waiting for the moon, From between the clouds All unexpected is the light Of lightning. |
331
Right (Win).
夕月夜かげろふ宵の雲間より光をかへて照らす稲妻
| yūzukuyo kagerō yoi no kumoma yori hikari o kaete terasu inazuma |
The evening moon Misty is at dusk, when From between the clouds Comes a different light: A flash of lightning! |
The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.
332
Neither team finds any fault with the other’s poem this round.
Shunzei, however, says, ‘Both poems contain the line “from between the clouds” (kumoma yori), with the Left “while waiting for the moon” (tsuki matsu hodo) and the Right “The evening moon misty is at dusk” (yūzukuyo kagerō yoi). In addition to the fact that “misty” is far more charming in relation to an “evening moon”, than “waiting for the moon”, “all unexpected is the light” (omowanu kage) is not an expression I find particularly pleasing. “Comes a different light” (hikari o kaete) seem much finer. Thus, I make the right the winner.’