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