Composed on early summer rain, while at the estate of Minister of the Emperor’s Household Tsunenaga at Katsurayama.
梅雨は見えし小笹の原もなしあさかの沼の心地のみして
| samidare Fa miesi wozasa no Fara mo nasi asaka no numa no kokoti nomi site |
Summer showers Have I seen, but broad-leaved bamboo Groves are there none; Asaka marsh is Simply what this feels like! |
Fujiwara no Norinaga
藤原範永
Left (Win).
霜結ぶ秋の末葉の小篠原風には露のこぼれしものを
| shimo musubu aki no sueba no ozasawara kaze ni wa tsuyu no koboreshi mono o |
Bound with frost Are the leaf-tips of The dwarf-bamboo grove, from where The wind flung dewdrops Once… |
467
Right.
月見れば霜に光を添へてけり秋の末葉の有明の空
| tsuki mireba shimo ni hikari o soetekeri aki no sueba no ariake no sora |
Looking at the moon, Its light the frostfall Has touched, Autumn’s last leaf From the dawning sky… |
468
The Right state that, ‘If it were ‘dewdrops flung by the wind’ (tsuyu wa kaze ni koboreshi), the conception [kokoro] of the Left’s poem would be easier to understand.’ The Left respond that, ‘The meanings of both are identical. However, in the Right’s poem it is not clear what the ‘last leaf’ (sueba) is.’
Shunzei’s judgement: ‘The Right’s poem, in addition to the expression ‘autumn’s last leaf’ having no clear referent, shows a weakness of conception [kokoro sukunaku kikoyu] with ‘looking at the moon’ (tsuki mireba). The Left, progressing from, ‘bound with frost’ (shimo musubu) to ‘leaf tips’ (sueba) and then ‘dwarf-bamboo grove’ (ozasawara) sounds most fine [yoroshiku kikokyu]. Thus, the Left must win.
Left (Tie).
出でゝこし道のさゝ原しげりあひて誰ながむ覧故郷の月
| idetekoshi michi no sasawara shigeriaite tare nagamuran furusato no tsuki |
I have set out Upon the road through bamboo grass, So lush; Who, I wonder, gazes At the moon above my distant home… |
165
Right (Tie).
わくらばにとはれし人も昔にてそれより庭の跡はたえにき
| wakuraba ni towareshi hito mo mukashi nite sore yori niwa no ato wa taeniki |
A rare Visit by him: even that Lies in the past; From my garden all Traces of his tracks have gone. |
166
Left (Win).
うへしげる垣根がくれの小篠原しられぬ戀はうきふしもなし
| ueshigeru kakinegakure no ozasawara shirarenu koi wa ukifushi mo nashi |
The fertile fronds Conceal the fence within A field of bamboo grass: Knowing not of my love, she Feels not its cruel cut. |
115
Right.
夜な夜なの月も涙にくもりにき影だに見せぬ人をこふとて
| yonayona no tsuki mo namida ni kumoriniki kage dani misenu hito o kou tote |
Each and every night The moon with tears Is clouded; For one who’ll show not e’en a hint Is all that I do love. |
116
Left (Win).
朝夕の音は時雨のならしばにいつ降りかはる霰なるらん
| asa yū no oto wa shigure no narashiba ni itsu furikawaru arare naruran |
Morn and night The sound of rain upon Oaken boughs; When, I wonder, did it change To hail? |
85
Right
霰降しづがさゝ屋のそよさらに一夜ばかりの夢をやは見る
| arare furi shizu ga sasaya no soyo sara ni hito yo bakari no yume o ya wa miru |
Hailstones fall Upon my mean bamboo roof; Will I, at least, Briefly this night Catch a glimpse of dreams? |
86
Left (Tie).
冬きては一夜二夜を玉ざゝの葉分の霜の所せきまで
| fuyu kite wa hito yo futa yo o tama zasa no hawake no shimo no tokoro seki made |
Winter has been here For but a night or two, yet Part the bamboo grass Fronds and frost Is all there is to find. |
81
Right
晴曇おなじながめのたのみだに時雨にたゆる遠の里人
| harekumoru onaji nagame no tanomi dani shigure ni tayuru ochi no satobito |
The clear sky clouding over, As I gaze lost into the distance: Even such longings Cease with the showers, O, my distant darling. |
82