Left (Tie)
さくらばないかでかひとのをりてみぬのちこそまさるいろもいでこめ
| sakurabana ikadeka hito no orite minu nochi koso masaru iro mo idekome | O, cherry blossom! Why would people Pick you—can not they see that ‘Tis later that your best Hues will emerge? |
Mitsune
15
Right
うたたねのゆめにやあるらむさくらばなはかなくみてぞやみぬべらなる
| utatane no yume ni ya aruramu sakurabana hakanaku mite zo yaminuberanaru | Dozing fitfully In my dreams might there be Cherry blossom? A brief glimpse, that Can be held right here… |
Mitsune
16
Left (Win).
はかなしや荒れたる宿のうたゝ寢に稲妻通ふ手枕の露
| hakanashi ya aretaru yado no utatane ni inazuma kayou tamakura no tsuyu |
How brief it was! In a ruined dwelling Dozing, when Lightning crossed The dewdrops on my pillowing arm… |
333
Right.
すだき來し澤の螢は影消てたえだえ宿る宵の稲妻
| sudakikoshi sawa no hotaru wa kage kiete taedae yadoru yoi no inazuma |
All together have The fireflies above the marsh Lost their light; Briefly remaining, Lightning at the dusk… |
334
The Right state that they have no criticisms of the Left’s poem. The Left wonder about the suitability of fireflies disappearing in the autumn.
Shunzei feels, ‘The Left’s poem is certainly charming in form and expression, but more thought should have been given to the initial phrase “How brief it was!” (hakanashi ya). The Right’s poem, too, is charming, and as for fireflies being a topic for summer poetry alone, in autumn it is acceptable to compose on the failing of their light, is it not? Did not Anjin compose “Fireflies flashing on the palace stairs and gates/Crickets crying from the eaves and tiles”? There is also the example from the Collection of Songs to Sing Aloud of “Seeking cuckoo calls in the dawntime clouds/Innumerable fireflies flit among the autumn grasses”. Still, the Left’s “dewdrops on my pillowing arm” wins, I think.’
Left (Win).
夏の夜はなるゝ清水の浮き枕むすぶ程なきうたゝ寢の夢
| natsu no yo wa naruru shimizu no ukimakura musubu hodo naki utatane no yume |
On a summer night Trickling water cools Beside my drifting pillow; No time to dip it In a brief dozy dream. |
239
Right.
夏の夜の數にも入れじ時鳥來鳴かぬさきに明るしのゝめ
| natsu no yo no kazu ni mo ireji hototogisu kinakanu saki ni akuru shinonome |
Among summer nights’ Number I’ll not count this one: Before the cuckoo Can come calling Comes the dark before bright dawn. |
240
The Right wonder ‘whether “Trickling water beside my drifting pillow” (shimizu no ukimakura) is something that’s likely to occur?’ while the Right counter, ‘and what of “Among summer nights’ number I’ll not count this one” (natsu no yo no kazu ni mo ireji) – it seems somewhat excessive an expression.’ Shunzei states testily, ‘The gentlemen of the Right’s questioning of “drifting pillow” (ukimakura) is absurd, for has there not long been the image of pillowing on a flow? The Right’s “Among summer nights’ number I’ll not count this one”, unavoidably incurs criticism from the gentlemen of the Left. In addition, the Left’s final line is most fine. It should win.’