Left (Tie).
をちかたやまだ見ぬ峰は霞にて猶花思ふ志賀の山越え
| ochikata ya mada minu mine wa kasumi nite nao hana omou shiga no yamagoe |
In the distance far As yet unseen peaks Are shrouded in the haze; Yet I think on blossom on The path across the Shiga Mountains. |
143
Right (Tie).
春深み花のさかりに成ぬれば雲を分け入る志賀の山越え
| haru fukami hana no sakari ni narinureba kumo o wakeiru shiga no yamagoe |
Spring is at its height, and The blossoms their peak Have reached, so I pass between the clouds On the path across the Shiga Mountains. |
The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.
144
The Right say that ‘shrouded in the haze’ (kasumi nite) in the Left’s poem is ‘somewhat grating on the ear’ [isasaka mimi ni tatsu], while the Left reply that the Right’s is ‘rather old-fashioned’ [furumekashiki] and ‘there would be people complaining it was similar to their own work!’
In response, Shunzei says, ‘The Left’s ‘shrouded in haze’ certainly is somewhat grating in form [mimi ni tatsubeku ya], but seeing blossom scattered on a mountain path and wondering about the situation on peaks ahead hidden in the haze, seems well in keeping with the conception of the topic [amari no kokoro ni ya haberan]. As for the Right, on first impression it is splendid [yū], and as for it seeming old-fashioned, and people complaining about it: well, I wonder if there ever was anyone who composed in such a manner [kayō no kokoro ni koso yomeru hai ni ya]? At the present time I have no recollection of anyone. Thus, I cannot decide on a winner between the two.’