[i] This poem is included in Fubokushō (VI: 2017), attributed to Kanemori, with the headnote ‘Kerria, Poetry Match held by the Reikeiden Junior Consort, Second Month, Tenryaku 11’.
[ii] This poem is included in Shikashū (I: 46) as an anonymous poem with the headnote ‘Composed for the Poetry Match held at the Residence of the Reikeiden Junior Consort’.
When both Left and Right had recited their poems, His Majesty spoke to this minor official, saying, ‘You should determine their merits and failings.’ I demurred, saying, ‘My understanding of the thirty-one syllables of waka is not such as to enable me to do this. I humbly request that Your Majesty decides.’ His Majesty, responded, ‘Should you not do this, it will spoil today’s events, and store up resentment. Make your determinations swiftly.’ In the face of His Majesty’s displeasure, I presented my own clumsy opinions.
In the Left’s poem, it is pleasant to describe Mount Kurahashi [Storehouse-bridge] as storing up the new year. In addition, it is certainly the case that crossing a bridge is what one does. The poem’s overall manner is also appropriate. As for the Right’s poem, the reference to being covered with haze seems a bit late, leaving one to wonder why the capital is springlike.
This round, my decision reflected His Majesty’s views. Observing the expressions of the imperial mien, I swiftly declared the Left the winner.
[ii] This poem was included in the third edition of Kin’yōshū (I: 3), although not in either of the earlier two versions. It is also in Shinsen rōeishū (I: 69).
sumiyoshi no nago no hamabe ni asarishite kyō zo shirinuru ikeru kai oba
At Sumiyoshi On Nago’s seashore Have I gathered shellfish, for Today, I know too well, that There is a point to life…
Taifu 133
Right
なげかじなよはさだめなきことのみかうきをもゆめとおもひなせかし
nagekajina yo wa sadamenaki koto nomi ka uki o mo yume to omoinase kashi
Do not fall to grief! Is this world uncertain and Nothing more? It’s cruelties, too, as but a dream Imagine!
Sadanaga 134
The poem of the Left has a suitable conception for this match and its configuration, again, has a singular, simple style. The poem of the Right, too, has a singular, almost prosaic conception, yet beginning ‘nothing more?’ and then having ‘imagine!’ is a further instance of diction which completely abandons poetic norms. Indeed, I have to say the Left wins.
tsuki kiyomi kai no shirane o nagamureba itsuka wa yuki ni sora wa harekeru
When at the moon, so clear, Above the white peak of Kai I gaze, I wonder When the snow Will clear from the skies…
Shun’e 55
Right
くまもなき月みるほどの心にてやがて此よをすぐしてしかな
kuma mo naki tsuki miru hodo no kokoro nite yagate kono yo o sugushiteshi kana
When the cloudless Moon I see, My heart Longs within this world To ever stay!
Lord Michiyoshi 56
While the Left does contain some feelings, these seem not to be apparent in its diction. When moonlight is confused with snow, then I would want the composition to be about a location which has none, but mentioning the ‘white peak of Kai’ makes it unclear because it sounds as the composition is about its snow. Dropping a reference to Mount Obasute and replacing it with the ‘white peak of Kai’ sounds absurd and puts me in mind of the judgement in the Poetry Match at the Palace in the Fields. With all that being said, the Right’s poem appears pointlessly pedestrian, so the Left should win, I think.
yama takami midarete niou hanazakura hito mo susamenu haru ya henuran
In these mountain heights The riotous glow of Blooming cherries: Is there no one to sing their praises As spring passes by?[1]
Chikanari 29
Right
行末の山のかひより昨日みし雲もさながら桜なりけり
yukusue no yama no kai yori kinō mishi kumo mo sanagara sakura narikeri
On my way Through mountain passes Yesterday I saw Clouds of white—all were Cherries![2]
Ie’kiyo 30
The Right’s poem, having ‘mountain passes yesterday I saw’ sounds like it conveys the conception of Tsurayuki’s poem well, but isn’t it a bit pointless to end up with something that sounds like a Travel poem? The Left’s poem has the fine conception of the old poem which goes ‘In these mountain heights / There is no one to sing the praises of / You cherry blossoms’, so thus it must win.
[1] An allusive variation on: Topic unknown. 山たかみ人もすさめぬさくら花いたくなわびそ我みはやさむ yama takami / hito mo susamenu / sakurabana / itaku na wabi so / ware mihayasamu ‘In these mountain heights / There is no one to sing the praises of / You cherry blossoms. / Do not be aggrieved / For I will do it.’ Anonymous (KKS I: 50).
[2] An allusive variation on: When he was instructed by His Majesty to compose a poem, he composed this and presented it. 桜花さきにけらしもあしひきの山の峡よりみゆる白雲 sakurabana / sakinikerashi mo / ashihiki no / yama no kai yori / miyuru shirakumo ‘The cherry blossom / Seems to have bloomed, and from / The leg-wearying / Mountain passes / Appears white billowing clouds.’ Tsurayuki (KKS I: 59)
When the Nishi-shijō Ise Virgin[1] was still a princess, while there were some tender feelings between them, it was decided that she should become Ise Virgin,[2] so at dawn on the following day, he had this sent to her, attached to a branch of sakaki.
伊勢のうみの千ひろのはまにひろふともいまはなにてふかひかあるべき
ise no umi no tiFiro no Fama ni FiroFu to mo ima Fa nani teFu kaFi ka arubeki
By the sea at Ise Across a thousand yards of beach Would I gather them, but Now what use Might be these seashells?
