Spring I: 20

Left (Tie).

立わたる野邊の霞を煙にてもえ出にけるこれや若草

tachiwataru
nobe no kasumi o
keburi nite
moe’idenikeru
kore ya wakakusa
Spreading, everywhere,
Across the plain, the haze
Seems smoke:
Is the burning the buds
Of new-grown grass…

Lord Kanemune

39

Right (Tie).

もえ出づる野邊の春草末わかみ空とゝもにぞ淺緑なる

moeizuru
nobe no haru kusa
sue wakami
sora to tomo ni zo
asamidori naru
Shooting up
Across the plain, the grass’
Tips are so young
That, with the skies,
They celadon seem…

The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.

40

Both teams say there is ‘nothing remarkable’ about the other’s poem, while Shunzei says simply the purport of both is ‘generally appropriate’ and that it would be ‘difficult to determine’ a winner.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *