samushiro ni iku yo no aki o shinobikinu ima hata onaji uji no hashihime
Beneath a scanty coverlet How many autumns Have I endured alone? Now, indeed, I am the same As the maid at Uji Bridge![1]
515
[1] An allusive variation on: Topic unknown. さむしろに衣かたしきこよひもや我をまつらむうぢのはしひめ samushiro ni / koromo katashiki / koyoi mo ya / ware o matsuramu / uji no hashihime ‘Upon a scanty coverlet / Beneath a single robe / On this night, too, / I wonder, does she await me, / My maid at Uji Bridge.’ Anonymous (KKS XIV: 689)
Left and Right together state: we find no faults to mention.
In judgement: the style of both the Left’s ‘maid at Uji bridge’ (uji no hashihime) and the Right’s ‘Warden of Uji bridge’ (uji no hashimori) is pleasant, and the Left’s ‘Is this how she waits, the maid at Uji bridge’ (kaku ya machiken uji no hashihime) draws on the conception of a tale from long ago, and the configuration also seems deeply moving. Thus, the Left should win.
The Right state: the Left’s poem has not faults to indicate. The Left state: the Right’s poem lacks the conception of Love.
In judgement: the Left uses ‘bamboo’ (kuretake) and the Right ‘star lily’ (himeyuri): although the Left’s ‘Maid: will she draw’ (ko wa shiorubeki) does not seem possible to accept on grounds of style, but the Right, in addition to also lacking much conception of Love, has ‘heartless wind’ (nasakenaki kaze) which sounds poor. Thus, the Left should win, I think.
