Topic unknown.
かなしさもあはれもたぐひおほかるを人にふるさぬことの葉もがな
| kanashisa mo aware mo tagui ōkaru o hito ni furusanu koto no ha mogana | Sorrow and Sadness, such terms Are many, but If only folk had never used before The words I’d say to you! |
Kentoku-kō
A poem from the Poetry Contest held by the Empress Dowager during the reign of the Kanpyō emperor.
思ふてふ事の葉のみや秋をへて色もかはらぬ物にはあるらん
| omoFu teFu koto no Fa nomi ya aki wo Fete iro mo kaFaranu mono ni Fa aruran | My fond thoughts expressed In words, and leaves, simply On reaching autumn’s surfeit— Won’t they change their hues? No, that will never be. |
Anonymous
Left (Win)
今さらにたれに心をうつうつすらむ我とすみ絵はかき絶えにけり
| ima sara ni tare ni kokoro o utsusuramu ware to sumi e wa kakitaenikeri |
Now, once again, To whom will his heart Shift? His reflection in A drawing of ink, is all that’s left Drawn, now he no longer lives with me… |
Lord Ari’ie
1107
Right
跡もなく色になり行言の葉やすみ絵ををとむる木立成らん
| ato mo naku iro ni nariyuki koto no ha ya sumi e o tomuru kodachi naruran |
No lines remain, All is turned to colour; Will his leaves of words Remain here at my home, as an ink Sketch of a grove? |
Lord Takanobu
1108
The Right state: the Left’s poem has no faults in particular. The Left state: why would you say that an ink drawing that remains ‘leaves no trace’? We would have preferred it had it been ‘colours most fair’ (iro masaru).
In judgement: both Left and Right have the conception of ‘ink drawings’ (sumie) and, when viewed together, I do not feel that they show much promise, but the Right, beginning with ‘no lines remain’ (ato mo naku) which I do not feel is in tune with the latter part of the poem, in addition, then concludes with ‘sketch of a grove’ (kodachi naruran) which is undesirable. The Left’s ‘a drawing of ink, is all that’s left’ (ware to sumi e wa) is a metaphorical expression which at least strives at charm. Thus, I must say that the Left is superior.
Left (Win)
おぼつかな音羽の山の時鳥さすがにいはぬ言な頼めそ
| obotukana otoFa no yama no Fototogisu sasuga ni iFanu koto na tanome so |
I wonder about Wingbeats on Otowa Mountain, The cuckoo: Truly in unsaid Words place no trust! |
3
Right
誰とかは言はかたらふ時鳥まづ我が聞くにいはで渡るは
| tare to ka Fa koto Fa kataraFu Fototogisu madu wa ga kiku ni iFade wataru Fa |
To whom is it that Tales you tell, O, Cuckoo? When first I listen, Wordless, do you fly back and forth… |
4
During the Tenryaku era, when people had gathered at Ise’s house, to say that she was coming.
時雨つゝふりにし宿の言の葉は掻集むれど止らざりけり
| siguretutu Furinisi yado no koto no Fa Fa kakiatumuredo tomarazarikeri |
Ever does the drizzle Fall at my home – My leaves of words I sweep all together, but Never does it end. |
Nakatsukasa (?912-?991)
中務