toshi goto ni kitsutsu wa ga miru sakurabana kasumi mo ima wa tachi na kakushi so
Every single year I hear of and gaze upon Cherry blossom: The haze, too, now Arising, don’t hide them!
Nakatsukasa
15
The Left’s poem is extremely charming – that really is how things are.
The Right’s poem: where is it that you always hear of and then see them? This is a bit rough. There’s also no reason to include the expression ‘now’ here. Thus, the Left wins.
[1] A variant of this poem was later included in Shūishū (I: 66).
The event was held in the Lady of the Bedchamber’s private apartment, presenting poems on blossoms at the palace. Poems were not presented for the Right.
Plum
かをとめてをりこそしつれむめの花春の霞は立ちかくせども
ka o tomete ori koso shitsure mume no hana haru no kasumi wa tachikakusedomo
To hold their fragrance here, Indeed, have I picked Plum blossoms, though The haze of spring Arise to hide them from my sight…
In the Twelfth Month of Kempō 5 [January 1218], I stayed at a monk’s cell at the Eifukuji on account of a directional taboo. When I returned home the following morning, I left behind a jacket
春まちてかすみの袖にかさねよと霜のころものおきてこそゆけ
haru machite kasumi no sode ni kasaneyo to shimo no koromo no okite koso yuke
Awaiting the springtime, Sleeves of haze, O, layer up! A frosty robe I leave you as I go!
