When the Biwa Minister of the Left, having some use for them, requested some oak leaves, and this was sent to the house of his acquaintence, Chikane, to obtain them.
我が宿を何時馴らしてか楢の葉を馴らし顔には折りにをこする
| wa ga yado wo itu narasite ka nara no Fa wo narasigaFo ni Fa wori ni okosuru |
With my home When did you become so familiar? That leaves of oak So freely Do you send to pick! |
Toshiko
俊子
草深く荒たる宿の灯火の風にきえぬは蛍なりけり
| kusa Fukaku aretaru yado no tomosibi no kaze ni kienu Fa Fotaru narikeri |
Deep within the grasses A ruined house has Torches Not guttering in the breeze: Fireflies. |
忘れ草茂れる宿を来て見れば思ひ軒より生ふるなりけり
| wasuregusa shigereru yado o kitemireba omoinoki yori ouru narikeri |
The day-lilies Are thick around this house I have come to see; Beneath the eaves, my thoughts run wild As the growing plants… |
Minamoto no Shunrai
源俊頼
When he visited, after many years, the home of lady with whom he had once been intimate, she composed this, pretending not to know who he was.
杉も杉宿もむかしの宿ながらかはるはひとの心なりけり
| sugi mo sugi yado mo mukashi no yado nagara kawaru wa hito no kokoro narikeri |
The cedars and their Dwelling make my home just as it was So long ago; What has changed is my Heart. |
Anonymous
On hearing the frogs .
我宿にあひ宿り宿りしてすむ蛙夜になればやものは悲しき
| wa ga yado ni aFiyadorisite sumu kaFadu yoru ni nareba ya mono Fa kanasiki |
At my home I lodge together with The frogs dwelling there; Is it that night has come That make everything so sad? |
Anonymous
When converting the Man’yōshū to Japanese.
独ぬる宿には月の見えざらば恋しき事の数はまさらじ
| Fitori nuru yado ni Fa tuki no miezaraba koFisiki koto no kazu Fa masarazi |
Sleeping solo In this house, if the moon I could not see, All my thoughts of love Would increase in number, wouldn’t they? |
Minamoto no Shitagō
徒然と眺めせしまに夏草のあはれや宿にしげりあひにけり
| tsuredure to nagamesesi ma ni natsu kusa no aFare ya yado ni sigeriaFinikeri |
In idleness Have I gazed upon The summer grasses How sad that at my house They grow so lush together! |
Topic unknown.
みよしのの山のあなたにやどもがな世のうき時のかくれがにせむ
| miyosino no yama no anata ni yado mogana yo no uki toki no kakurega ni semu |
‘On Yoshino Mountain’s yonder side I would there were a house! For when I do despise the world There would I hide away! |
Anonymous
A woman who lived in a rather dilapidated place, when she was feeling alone, picked some violets from her garden and sent them to a man saying:
我が宿にすみれの花の多かれば来宿る人やあると待つかな
| a ga yado ni sumire no Fana no oFokareba kiyadoru Fito ya aru to matu kana |
At my home The violets bloom In profusion, so Wondering if you will come to stay I am awaiting! |
Anonymous
Left (Win).
末までといひしばかりに浅茅原宿も我名も朽や果てなん
| sue made to iishi bakari ni asajibara yado mo wa ga na mo kuchi ya hatenan |
‘Until the very end,’ You simply said, but A field of cogon grass Surrounds my house; my name, too, Will it wither away…? |
A Servant Girl
769
Right.
斧の柄も年経る程は知る物をなど我恋の朽つる世もなき
| ono no e mo toshi heru hodo wa shiru mono o nado wa ga koi no kutsuru yo mo naki |
Even my axe handle, Endures through the passing years, I know it, but Why is it that this love Does not rot from this world? |
Jakuren
770
Neither poem has any errors.
In judgement: ‘My house; my name, too’ (yado mo wa ga na mo) sounds better than ‘Why is it that this love’ (nado wa ga koi). The Left wins.