Palace Poetry Match – Intercalary Ninth Month, Tenryaku 9

Topic: Scarlet Leaves

Poets

A poetry match held by His Majesty, matching scarlet leaves in the intercalary Ninth Month, Tenryaku 9.[i]

Round One

Left

わがをりてくらぶのやまのもみぢばにひとしきいろはあらじとぞおもふ

wa ga orite kurabu no yama no momijiba ni hitoshiki iro wa araji to zo omou

I pick, and Compare on Mount Kurabu Scarlet leaves— Matching their hues is Nothing at all, I feel!

1

Right (Win)

うすくこくくらぶのやまのもみぢばはつゆもわかねどいろぞまされる

usuku koku kurabu no yama no momijiba wa tsuyu mo wakanedo iro zo masareru

Both pale and dark To compare are Mount Kurabu’s Scarlet leaves— Not even the dew tells them apart, yet Still superb are their hues!

2

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[i] This corresponds to November 955.