Round Five

Left

あきののは花の色色おほかれど萩のにしきにしく物ぞなき

aki no no wa hana no iroiro ōkaredo hagi no nishiki ni shiku mono zo naki

In the autumn meadows The blooms have hues Aplenty, yet To the bush-clover’s brocade There’s nothing to compare.

Lord Fujiwara no Yorisuke, Assistant Master of the Empress Dowager’s Household Office
9

Right (Win)

ほりはてぬ花こそあらめ秋ののに心をさへものこしつるかな

horihatenu hana koso arame aki no no ni kokoro o sae mo nokoshitsuru kana

As yet undug Flowers, indeed, may there be In the autumn meadows, for Even my heart Does linger there!

Lord Minamoto no Yorimasa, Former Director of the Bureau of Military Storehouses
10

The Left seems a bit cliched, yet it’s not bad. As for the Right, the image of having dug up all the flowers is unsatisfying, yet it’s not worth drawing attention to when the whole sentiment is so charming, and thus the Right should win.