Left.
葛城や久米路の橋にあらねども絶えぬる中は渡る物かは
kazuragi ya
kumeji no hashi ni
aranedomo
taenuru naka wa
wataru mono ka wa |
At Kazuragi
The bridge of Kumeji
It is not, yet
Can a relationship that’s done
Ever continue on? |
Lord Suetsune
1017
Right (Win).
葛城や渡しもはてぬ岩橋も夜の契はありとこそ聞け
kazuragi ya
watashi mo hatenu
iwabashi mo
yoru no chigiri wa
ari to koso kike |
At Kazuragi lies
The unfinished
Bridge of stone:
A vow at night
There was, I hear! |
Ietaka
1018
Both Left and Right state: we find no faults to mention.
In judgement: both poems refer to ‘the bridge of Kazuragi, while the Left has ‘a relationship that’s done’ (taenuru naka). As the bridge, from the very beginning, was never finished, it is not appropriate to say that it is ‘done’. ‘A vow at night’ (yoru no chigiri) seems to be referring to Kodaigimi’s ‘cannot endure’ (taenubeshi). The Right has certainly matched the conception of the bridge. Thus, I make the Right the winner.
A poem from the Empress’ Poetry Competition held in the Kanpyō period.
住の江の岸による浪夜さへや夢の通ひ路人目よくらむ
suminoe no
kisi ni yoru nami
yoru saFe ya
yume no kayoFidi
Fitome yokuramu |
As to Suminoe’s
Shore rush the waves
Why every night
Upon the path of dreams
Do I hide from other’s eyes? |
Fujiwara no Toshiyuki
藤原敏行
数ならぬ我が身は夜の衣がはきつれば人のまづかへすらむ
kazu naranu
wa ga mi wa yoru no
koromogawa
kitsureba hito no
mazu kaesuramu |
Numberless are
The nights I’ve spent
Beside the River Robe;
I put it on so he
Will first turn it back. |
Minamoto no Shunrai
源俊頼
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
Left (Win).
頼めぬを待ちつる宵も過果てゝつらさ閉ぢむる片敷の床
tanomenu o
machitsuru yoi mo
sugihatete
turasa tojimuru
katashiki no toko |
He did not say he’d come, and so
To waiting through the night
I have put an end,
Sealing my unhappiness
In a single bed… |
Lord Sada’ie.
835
Right.
我戀や衛士の焚く火となりぬらん夜のみひとり燃えあかす哉
wa ga koi ya
eshi no taku hi to
narinuran
yoru nomi hitori
moeakasu kana |
Has my love, like
Conscripts’ kindled flame
Become?
Through the night alone
Afire? |
Lord Tsune’ie.
836
The Right state: we wonder about the appropriateness of both ‘sealing’ (tojimuru) and ‘a single bed’ (katashiki no toko). The Left state: it sounds as if the ‘conscripts’ kindled flame’ (eshi no taku hi) is alone.
In judgement: the Left’s poem, beginning with ‘to waiting through the night I have put an end’ (machitsuru yoi mo sugihatete) and then continuing with ‘sealing my unhappiness’ (tsurasa tojimuru) does not sound bad, but ‘single bed’ should surely have been ‘sleeve’ (sode). The ‘conscripts kindled flame’ would certainly not have been ‘burning alone’ (hitori moyu). The Left should win, it seems.
Left (Win).
慰めてまどろむ程の戀ならば夜さへ物は思はざらまし
nagusamete
madoromu hodo no
koi naraba
yoru sae mono wa
omowazaramashi |
Feeling some relief,
Enough, at least, to doze:
If that was my love, then
Until the fall of night
I would wish to avoid these gloomy thoughts. |
Lord Suetsune.
831
Right.
目に見えぬ夜こそまされ天雲のよそに成行く人のつらさは
me ni mienu
yoru koso masare
amagumo no
yoso ni nariyuku
hito no tsurasa wa |
When all goes unseen
At night, it overwhelms me:
The cloudy heavens’
Distance, where he has gone
So heartlessly. |
Ietaka.
832
The Right state: there are no faults to indicate. The Left state: we wonder about the suitability of the impression conveyed by ‘When all goes unseen at night’ (me ni mienu yoru) on hearing it.
In judgement: the poem of the Right, with its ‘The cloudy heavens’ distance, where he has gone’ (amagumo no yoso ni nariyuku) is elegant, but it is certain that ‘When all goes unseen’ (me ni mienu) recalls the expression from the Kokin Preface, ‘unseen gods and demons’. The Left’s poem sounds pleasantly realised from beginning to end. It should win.
君恋ふとながめくらせる夜の雨は袖にしも降る心地こそすれ
kimi kou to
nagame kuraseru
yoru no ame wa
sode ni shimo furu
kokochi koso sure |
You say you love me
But I gaze into the darkness
This night when the rain
Upon my sleeves especially does fall –
That is what I feel! |
Minamoto no Yorimasa
源頼政
Left (Win).
葛城や夜の契りは空しきに物思ふ橋はなどや途絶えぬ
kuzuragi ya
yoru no chigiri wa
munashiki ni
mono’omou hashi wa
nado ya todaenu |
Just as Kuzuragi,
A night’s vow
Is empty, yet
My longing’s end:
Why does it never come? |
Kenshō.
673
Right.
頼むるに露の命をかけつればこの言の葉ぞ置き所なき
tanomuru ni
tsuyu no inochi o
kaketsureba
kono koto no ha zo
okidokoro naki |
Trustworthy for
A dewdrop life’s
Length, but
These words of yours
Will find no place here… |
Lord Tsune’ie.
674
The Gentlemen of the Right state: the Left’s poem contains a significant amount of less than desirable diction. The Gentlemen of the Left state: we have nothing in particular to mention.
Shunzei’s judgement: while the Left’s ‘Why does it never come?’ (nado ya todaenu) is certainly undesirable, the initial section is most tasteful [yū]. The Right’s ‘dewdrop life long’ (tsuyu no inochi o kaku) ‘words’ (koto no ha) seems hackneyed, so still, ‘Kuzuragi Bridge’ should stand as the winner.
Left (Tie).
をのづからなさけぞみゆる荒手組む賤がそともの夕顔の花
onozukara
nasake zo miyuru
arate kumu
shizu ga soto mo no
yūgao no hana |
How natural
To be moved:
Twined roughly round the fence
Outside a peasant’s hut,
Moonflower blooms… |
Kenshō.
273
Right (Tie).
山賤の契のほどや忍ぶらん夜をのみ待つ夕顔の花
yamagatsu no
chigiri no hodo ya
shinoburan
yoru o nomi matsu
yūgao no hana |
Is it with the mountain man
Her time is pledged
So secretly?
For the night alone, awaiting,
The moonflower bloom. |
Jakuren.
274
The Right state, ‘it is normal diction to say ‘roughly’ (arate) ‘hang’ (kaku). Is it possible to also use ‘twine’ (kumu)?’ In response from the Left, ‘Yes, one can.’ The Left have no criticisms to make of the Right’s poem.
Shunzei states, ‘Both poems are equally lacking in faults or merits. Whether one uses “roughly” twining or hanging, neither is particularly superlative, I think. “Her time is pledged” (chigiri no hodo ya) seems somehow lacking , too. This round must tie.’
'Simply moving and elegant'