Left (Tie).
龍田山わかみどりなる夏木立もみぢの秋もさもあらばあれ
| tatsutayama waka midorinaru natsu kodachi momiji no aki mo sa mo araba are |
On Tatsuta Mountain The fresh, green Summer clustered trees Autumn’s scarlet leaves Do match. |
181
Right (Tie).
面影は時雨し秋の紅葉にてうすもへぎなる神南備の森
| omokage wa shigureshi aki no momiji nite usumoeginaru kamunabi no mori |
Bringing to mind Shower-dampened, autumn Scarlet leaves: The pale, grass-green Sacred groves… |
182
The Right say, ‘The Left’s poem seems to be have the same conception as the composition by Emperor Sūtoku, “Autumn’s clear moon/Do match” (tsuki sumu aki mo sa mo araba are).’ In reply, the Left say, ‘It is entirely to be expected that there should be such a resemblance,’ and then remark about the Right’s poem, ‘It sounds as if scarlet leaves are its main point, and the topic has been rendered secondary. Furthermore, “pale, grass-green” (usumoeginaru) does not seem to clearly relate to anything.’
Shunzei simply says, ‘“Tatsuta Mountain”(tatsutayama), “sacred groves” (kamunabi no mori), “fresh, green” (wakamidori) and “pale, grass-green” are all appropriate to the form, and there does not appear to be a clear winner, or loser.’