Left
時しもあれ空飛ぶ鳥の一聲も思ふ方より來てや鳴らん
toki shi mo are
sora tobu tori no
hitogoe mo
omou kata yori
kite ya naruran |
Now, when I am wondering,
A bird, soaring through the skies,
Gives a single call;
From whence I love
Does it come, I wonder? |
A Servant Girl
1045
Right (Win)
天の戸を明けぬと告ぐる鳥の音も獨寢る夜はさもあらばあれ
ama no to o
akenu to tsuguru
tori no ne mo
hitori neru yo wa
sa mo araba are |
“The gates of Heaven
Are open!” announces
A cock’s crow, though
On a night spent sleeping alone,
It matters not at all… |
The Supernumerary Master of the Empress Household Office
1046
The Right state: what gives rise to the idea in the Left’s poem? The Gentlemen of the Left state: there are no faults we can find.
In judgement: what sort of bird is it that ‘soaring through the skies gives a single call’ (sora tobu tori no hitogoe)? I wonder if there is a suitable source for this? That being said, I doubt the Gentlemen of the Right’s point is pertinent. It has been stated that the Right’s poem lacks any faults. It must win.
Sad thoughts.
夕凝りの霜置きにけり朝戸出にいたくし踏みて人に知らゆな
yupu kori no
simo okinikeri
asa tode ni
itakusi pumite
pito ni sirayuna |
With the evening chill
Frost has fallen;
In the morning, opening the door
Tread lightly, so
No one will know… |
朝戸出の君が足結を濡らす露原早く起き出でつつ我れも裳裾濡らさな
asa tode no
kimi ga ayupi wo
nurasu tuyu para
payaku oki
idetutu ware mo
mosuso nurasana |
In the morning, opening the door
Bound up, your belt
Will be drenched by the dewy fields;
Swiftly rising
I, too, shall venture out and
Soak my skirt-hem… |
Kakinomoto no Hitomaro Collection
柿本人麻呂歌集
On parting.
朝戸出の君が姿をよく見ずて長き春日を恋ひや暮らさむ
asa tode no
kimi ga sugata wo
yoku mizute
nagaki parupi wo
kopi ya kurasamu |
In the morning, opening the door
My lord’s form
I could not see well, so
How through this long spring day
Can I live with my love? |
東雲の明けざりしかは夜もすがら真木の戸よりは立ち返へりにし
sinonome no
akezarisikaba
yomosugara
maki no to yori Fa
tatikaFerinisi |
If only the eastern skies
Had not lightened, then
After the long night
From this door of cedarwood
I would not have departed… |
Minamoto no Sane’akira
源信明
Sent to a woman.
天の戸をあけぬあけぬと言ひなして空鳴きしつる鳥の声かな
ama no to o
akenu akenu to
iinashite
sora nakishitsuru
tori no koe kana |
“The gates of Heaven
Are open! Are open!”
Cries
A song from the sky
In a bird’s call… |
Anonymous
谷の戸にかへりやしぬる鶯の花のねくらば散り積りつつ
tani no to ni
kaFeri ya sinuru
uguFisu no
Fana no nekuraba
tiritumoritutu |
To the valley door
Does he return?
The warbler
Found his roost among the blooms,
Now scattering and drifting… |
Fujiwara no Kiyosuke (1104-1177)
藤原清輔
見しか夜のまた雲とづるせきの戸を鳥はまことの音にゆるすなり
mishi ka yo no
mata kumo tozuru
seki no to o
tori wa makoto no
ne ni yurusunari |
Did I see that night
Still closed in with cloud
Blocking my door
A bird, a clear call
Set free. |
Ietaka
'Simply moving and elegant'