Entō ōn’uta’awase 31

Round Thirty-One

Left

露すがる庭の萩原色付きぬいかなる人の思ひそむらん

tsuyu sugaru
niwa no hagiwara
irozukinu
ika naru hito no
omoisomuran
All clung with dew,
The bush clover grove in the grounds
Has taken on such hues, that
I wonder who it is
Might have just fallen into passion’s flames?

Chikanari
61

Right (Win)

おく露は秋のならひの萩が枝にあまるや雁の涙なるらん

oku tsuyu wa
aki no narai no
hagi ga e ni
amaru ya kari no
namida naruran
Dewdrops falling is
Autumn’s custom for
The bush clover branches, but
Added to them are the goose
Tears, perhaps?[1]

Ie’kiyo
62

The Left’s poem has a person’s feelings being dyed by the bush-clover, but I cannot think why this should be?  The Right’s poem seems particularly pleasant. Thus, it wins.


[1] An allusive variation on: Composed on the occasion of a poetry competition at Prince Koresada’s house. 秋の夜のつゆをばつゆとおきながらかりの涙やのべをそむらむ aki no yo no / tsuyu oba tsuyu to / okinagara / kari no namida ya / nobe o somuran ‘On Autumn nights / The dew as dewdrops / Falls, but, / Perhaps goose tears / Stain the fields?’ Mibu no Tadamine (KKS V: 258)

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