Left (Tie).
秋風の吹も強らぬ眞葛原夏の氣色に猶かへる哉
| aki kaze no fuki mo tsuyoranu makuzuwara natsu no keshiki ni nao kaeru kana |
The autumn wind Blows with such little strength that The field of arrowroot To its summer scene Has yet returned. |
305
Right (Tie).
秋來てもまだひとへなる衣手に厭はぬ程の風ぞ吹なる
| aki kitemo mada hitoenaru koromode ni itowanu hodo no kaze zo fukunaru |
Autumn has come, and yet For my still single-layered Sleeves There is no respite in The breath of wind |
306
The Right state, ‘The expression “little strength” (tsuyoranu) is particularly grating on the ear.’ The Left respond, ‘And what are we really to make of the expression, “no respite in the breath of wind” (itowanu hodo no kaze)? Even in “O, blow my cares away,/First breeze of Autumn!” (kokorosite Fuke aki no Fatukaze), one does not get a sense of dislike for the wind. Furthermore, the core sense of the poem seems inappropriately chilly for the topic.’
Shunzei’s judgement is that, ‘the criticisms of both teams have merit. The Left’s “little strength” is as stated. As for the spirit of the Right’s poem, does not “O, blow my cares away” (kokorosite Fuke) mean that the coolness brings no respite? While the spirit of “Lingering Heat” certainly contains the key sense that things have become slightly cooler, as I said in the last round. In any case, this round is a tie.’