Spiders 蜘蛛
ささがにのしるしもいさやいかならんこよひにてみんくものふるまひ
sasagani no shirushi mo isa ya ika naruran koyoi nite min kumo no furumai | A tiny crab’s Sign, well, What to make of it? Tonight will I attend to The spider’s behaviour… |
Nakazane
Spiders 蜘蛛
ささがにのしるしもいさやいかならんこよひにてみんくものふるまひ
sasagani no shirushi mo isa ya ika naruran koyoi nite min kumo no furumai | A tiny crab’s Sign, well, What to make of it? Tonight will I attend to The spider’s behaviour… |
Nakazane
Lacking a Glimpse of Love Letters 不見書恋
ふみつくる跡も見えねば浜千鳥たちゐるそらもかひなかりけり
fumi tsukuru ato mo mieneba hama chidori tachi’iru sora mo kainakarikeri | Of letter writing, too, I see not a sign; The plovers on beach Take wing into the skies, just As pointlessly. |
Daishin
Lingering Cold
雪きえぬみ山がくれは猶さえて春のしるしも見えず有りける
yuki kienu miyamagakure wa nao saete haru no shirushi mo miezu arikeru | The snow lingers on, and My deep mountain retreat Is still so chill, that Not one sign of spring Can I see at all… |
Daishin
Left
起きもゐで年ふる戀はをのづから常世の神やしるし見すべき
oki mo ide toshi furu koi wa onozukara tokoyo no kami ya shirushi misubeki |
Unable to arise From love these many years, May I By the eternal gods Be shown a sign! |
Kenshō
1069
Right (Win)
獨臥すながながし夜のかなしきを語らひあかすきりぎりす哉
hitori fusu naganagashi yo no kanashiki o katarai akasu kirigirisu kana |
Lying alone, So long, long the night’s Sorrow; Lightening it with chatter Are the crickets! |
The Supernumerary Master of the Empress’ Household Office
1070
The Gentlemen of the Right state: what is the meaning of ‘the eternal gods’ (toko no kami). In appeal, the Left: in the Chronicles of Japan, insects are worshipped under the name of ‘the eternal gods’ and made to seem like men. The Left state: what can an insect chatter about?
In judgement: in regard to the Left’s poem, while it is true that insects were worshipped, a poem on ‘Love and Insects’ with no insect is lacking something from the start. This poem would seem to be more a case of ‘Love and Prayers’. Thus, this is nothing enduring. A prior example has been contrived, but this is ineffective. It does not seem as if this insect’s nature has any relation to the topic. The Right’s poem has a commonplace cricket. Where is the fault in having it lighten one’s mood with chatter? Thus, the Right must win.
The Ninth Day of the Ninth Month
ちるをみばしぼめるかほか花なればなづとも菊のしるしあらめや
chiru o miba shibomeru kao ka hana nareba nazu tomo kiku no shirushi arame ya | If I see them fall, Are these fading faces? Flowers they are, so Would even a touch, chrysanthemums Show them to be? |
Minamoto no Toshiyori
源俊頼
The Kamo Festival (加茂祭)
人よりもたのみぞかくるあふひ草わきても神のしるしみせなん
hito yori mo tanomi zo kakuru aoigusa wakite mo kami no shirushi misenan |
Rather than the folk, Their prayers are hidden by Hollyhocks: Part them and the Gods’ Sign is revealed… |
Higo
京極関白家肥後
Summer Garb (夏衣)
夏たつとしるしも見えず衣川いつも舟よるうらしなければ
natsu tatsu to shirushi mo miezu koromogawa itsumo fune yoru urashinakereba |
Of summer weft There is no sign At the River Robe For never do boats draw near Its shores! |
Minamoto no Kanemasa
源兼昌