Tag Archives: rock clefts

Kinkai wakashū 166

Pinks

ゆかしくば行きてもみませゆきしまの岩ほにおふる撫子の花

yukashikuba
yukitemo mimase
yukishima no
iwao ni ouru
nadeshiko no hana
If you find them charming, then
You should go and see
While snow lies heavy on the garden’s
Rock where grow
The pinks in bloom.[i]
A kuzushiji version of the poem's text.

[i] An allusive variation on: A poem by Kamō, the dancing girl. 雪嶋 巌尓殖有 奈泥之故波 千世尓開奴可 君之挿頭尓 yuki no shima / iwao ni uetaru / nadeshiko wa / chiyo ni sakanu ka / kimi ga Kazashi ni ‘Snow lies heavy on the garden’s / Rocks where grow / The pinks: / o. won’t you bloom a thousand years? / That my Lord may wear you in his hair…’ (MYS XIX: 4232).

Spring III: 17

Left (Win).

散る花をけふのまとゐの光にて浪間にめぐる春のさか月

chiru hana o
kyō no matoi no
hikari nite
namima ni meguru
haru no sakazuki
Falling blossoms
To the gathering today
Add lustre,
Circling between the waves go
The wine-cups of spring.

A Servant Girl.

153

Right.

岩間より流れてくだす盃に花の色さへ浮ぶけふかな

iwama yori
nagarete kudasu
sakazuki ni
hana no iro sae
ukabu kyō kana
From the rock-clefts
Float down
Cups of wine –
Even the blossoms’ hues
Seem adrift upon them, today…

Lord Takanobu.

154

The Right team state that the Left’s poem, ‘seems good,’ while the Left state that the Right’s combination of nagarete (‘flow’) and kudasu (‘send down’) is ‘inharmonious and would be better reversed.’ (In his poem, Takanobu has combined an intransitive verb nagaru with a transitive one, kudasu, and the Left are complaining that it’s odd to have something flowing (on its own) and then being sent down (by someone), so it would have been better phrased as kudashite nagaru, ‘sent down and then flowed’.)

Shunzei comments that, ‘Both poems have superlative elements. The Right’s nagaretekudasu is not entirely inharmonious, but the Left’s “circling between the waves go the wine-cups of spring” is particularly fine. Thus, I award it victory.’

Spring III: 16

Left (Tie).

流れ來て岩間をくだる盃はさして誰にと見えずも有るかな

nagarekite
iwama o kudaru
sakazuki wa
sashite tare ni to
miezu mo aru kana
Drifting down
Through the rock clefts, come
The winecups,
Proffered by no one,
Or so it seems…

Lord Suetsune.

151

Right (Tie).

岩間分け流れもやらぬさかづきは心ざせどもかひなかりけり

iwama wake
nagare mo yaranu
sakaduki wa
kokorozasedomo
kainakarikeri
Through the rock clefts
Unable to flow are
The winecups:
I would offer one, yet
‘Tis no use, at all.

Lord Tsune’ie.

152

Yet again, neither team has anything to say about the other’s poem.

Shunzei says, ‘Both Left and Right have composed on “rock cleft wine cups”, with a concept of “proffered to someone” (sashite tare ni) or “I would proffer, yet” (kokorozasedomo): these are truly identical in quality. The round must tie.’

Spring III: 15

Left.

けふといへば岩間によどむ盃を待たぬ空まで花に酔ふらん

kyō to ieba
iwama ni yodomu
sakazuki o
matanu sora made
hana ni youran
Talking of today,
Caught in clefts between the rocks, yet
The wine cups’
Not awaiting, even the skies seem
Drunk on blossom.

Lord Ari’ie.

149

Right (Win).

花の色は入日を殘す木のもとに春も暮れゆく三日月の空

hana no iro wa
irihi o nokosu
ki no moto ni
haru mo kureyuki
mika tsuki no sora
The blossoms’ hues
Have caught the setting sun, while
Beneath the trees
Springtime dusk draws on,
A crescent moon within the sky.

Jakuren.

150

Both teams have no particular comments to make about the other’s poem.

Shunzei remarks, ‘Both poems are of similar quality, as has been mentioned by the gentlemen present, however, the Left’s poem is clearly in the spirit of “With blossom the heavens are drunk, in the season of plentiful peaches.” (A well known Chinese poem composed by Sugawara no Michzane.) But the Right’s “Springtime dusk draws on, a crescent moon” captures the light better, I think. Thus, it seems to be the winner.’