Left (Tie).
唐衣ひとへに夏の氣色にて袂に秋は知られざりけり
| karakoromo hitoe ni natsu no keshiki nite tamoto ni aki wa shirarezarikeri |
My Cathay robe: A single layer has summer’s Feel; Upon my sleeves is autumn Entirely unknown. |
301
Right.
秋來ぬと風の氣色は見ゆれども猶涼しさは音せざりけり
| aki kinu to kaze no keshiki wa miyuredomo nao suzushisa wa oto sezarekeri |
When autumn came In the breeze’s touch Did I feel it, Without coolness or Sound. |
302
The Right have no criticisms to make of the Left’s poem; the Left merely wonder ‘whether proceeding from ‘coolness’ (suzushisa) to ‘sound’ (oto) is appropriate expression, although it is in keeping with the spirit of the topic.’
Shunzei states, ‘The Left’s poem has no particular problems, but “My Cathay robe: a single layer” (karakoromo hitoe) is a somewhat old-fashioned expression, and saying “Upon my sleeves is autumn entirely unknown” (tamoto ni aki wa shirarezarikeri) seems rather pointless. In the Right’s poem, while it is in the spirit of “My eyes clearly” (me ni Fa sayakani), “Without coolness or sound” (nao suzushisa wa oto sezarekeri) is clumsy expression. Neither poem is a worthy victor this round.’