Round Twelve

Left

我がやどものこる花なくうゑつれど野べのけしきは猶ぞ床しき

wa ga yado mo nokoru hana naku uetsuredo nobe no keshiki wa nao zo yukashiki

At my dwelling Lingering blooms are there none Though I did plant them, The prospect of a meadow is Charming still!

Lord Fujiwara no Kiyosuke, Senior Secretary of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office
23

Right

秋萩の枝もとををにおく露のはらはばあやな花やちりなん

akihagi no eda mo tōo ni oku tsuyu no harawaba aya na hana ya chirinan

The autumn bush-clover Branches bent with Fallen dewdrops— Should I sweep them off, then Would the blossoms scatter, I wonder?

Lay Priest and Master of the Left Capital Office Norinaga
24

Doesn’t the Right seem to resemble the poem in the Ancient and Modern Collection which says

をりてみば落ちぞしぬべき秋萩の枝もとををにおけるしら露

oritemiba ochi zo shinubeki akihagi no eda mo tōo ni okeru shiratsuyu

Were I to pluck one, ‘Twould fall and smash: Autumn bush-clover’s Branches bent With fallen silver dewdrops.