Composed on silver-grass at the Poetry Competition in the Garden of the Empress Ikuhōmon’in.
ものごとに秋のけしきはしるけれどもまづ身にしむはおぎのうは風
| monogoto ni aki no kesiki Fa sirukeredomo madu mi ni simu Fa ogi no uFakaze |
In many things Is the feel of autumn Made known, yet Most affecting of all Is the wind o’er the silver-grass. |
Minister of the Treasury Yukimune.
Round One-Hundred and Fifty-Two: Autumn – Lingering Heat.
Left.
水無月の照る日や影を殘しけん今朝吹く風の秋に知られぬ
| minazuki no teru hi ya kage o nokoshiken kesa fuku kaze no aki ni shirarenu |
The Waterless Month’s Shining sun and light Seem to linger on; To this morning’s blowing breeze Is autumn quite unknown. |
303
Right (Win).
秋を淺み照る日を夏とおぼめけば暮行空の荻の上風
| aki o asami teru hi o natsu to obomekeba kureuyuku sora no ogi no uwakaze |
In autumn ‘tis weak, yet The shining sun, of summer Yet has the feel; From the dusking sky comes The wind o’er the silver-grass. |
The Provisional Master of the Empress Household Office.
304
The Right state, ‘It would have been far better to have “This morning’s blowing breeze brings no knowledge of autumn” (kesa fuku kaze no aki o shirasenu).’ The Left reply, ‘In the Right’s poem, the initial section fails to express the topic, and the latter part seems to have no purpose.’
Shunzei’s judgement is: ‘With regard to the Left’s poem, I cannot agree that “brings no knowledge of autumn” is any better than “is autumn quite unknown”. As for the Right, in general it is not considered that “the shining sun, of summer yet has the feel” (teru hi o natsu to obomekeba) provides suitable praise to the lingering heat of autumn. However, even in poems on the theme of lingering heat, it is appropriate to praise the coolness of early evening. Does not “From the dusking sky comes the wind o’er the silver-grass” (kureuyuku sora no ogi no uwakaze) do this? It must win.’
Left (Tie).
唐衣ひとへに夏の氣色にて袂に秋は知られざりけり
| karakoromo hitoe ni natsu no keshiki nite tamoto ni aki wa shirarezarikeri |
My Cathay robe: A single layer has summer’s Feel; Upon my sleeves is autumn Entirely unknown. |
301
Right.
秋來ぬと風の氣色は見ゆれども猶涼しさは音せざりけり
| aki kinu to kaze no keshiki wa miyuredomo nao suzushisa wa oto sezarekeri |
When autumn came In the breeze’s touch Did I feel it, Without coolness or Sound. |
302
The Right have no criticisms to make of the Left’s poem; the Left merely wonder ‘whether proceeding from ‘coolness’ (suzushisa) to ‘sound’ (oto) is appropriate expression, although it is in keeping with the spirit of the topic.’
Shunzei states, ‘The Left’s poem has no particular problems, but “My Cathay robe: a single layer” (karakoromo hitoe) is a somewhat old-fashioned expression, and saying “Upon my sleeves is autumn entirely unknown” (tamoto ni aki wa shirarezarikeri) seems rather pointless. In the Right’s poem, while it is in the spirit of “My eyes clearly” (me ni Fa sayakani), “Without coolness or sound” (nao suzushisa wa oto sezarekeri) is clumsy expression. Neither poem is a worthy victor this round.’
Left (Win).
鳴蝉の羽に置く露に秋かけて木陰涼しき夕暮の聲
| naru semi no ha ni oku tsuyu ni aki kakete kokage suzushiki yūkure no koe |
Upon the singing cicadas’ Wings fall dewdrops, Heralding autumn; Cool, and shaded by the trees Are their evening songs… |
299
Right.
夏深き杜の梢にかねてより秋をかなしむ蝉の聲かな
| natsu fukaki mori no kozue ni kanete yori aki o kanashimu semi no koe kana |
In the depths of summer From the forest treetops, Long before Autumn, in sadness Do the cicadas sing. |
300
Neither Left nor Right can find fault with the other’s poem this round.
Shunzei states, ‘It is rather difficult to know a cicada’s mind – as to whether or not it is mourning the coming of autumn long before it arrives. The Left’s “Wings fall dewdrops, heralding autumn” (ha ni oku tsuyu ni aki kakete), is particularly delicate in expression and charming. It must win.’
Left (Win).
あらし吹く梢はるかに鳴蝉の秋を近しと空に告ぐ也
| arashi fuku kozue haruka ni naru semi no aki o chikashi to sora o tsugu nari |
A storm wind blows The distant treetops, where The cicadas sing Of coming autumn To the skies. |
289
Right.
茂りあふ青き紅葉の下涼み暑さは蝉の聲にゆづりぬ
| shigeriau aoki momiji no shita suzumi atsusa wa semi no koe in yuzurinu |
Lush and Green beneath the maple leaves ‘Tis cool; The heat by cicadas Song is summoned. |
290
The Right state that, ‘“Sing…to the skies” (sora o tsugu) goes against the spirit of the topic,’ while the Left wonder, ‘What we can make of “green maple leaves” (aoki momiji)?’
Shunzei states, ‘The Left’s “sing of coming autumn to the skies” (aki o chikashi to sora o tsugu nari) is superlative. The Right’s “green maple leaves” (aoki momiji) must mean that the poet, on seeing a tree which turns scarlet, rather than green, recollects the autumn colour. However, “the heat” and the diction in the concluding line are somewhat pedestrian and unpoetic. I must award the victory to the Left.’
Left.
風通ふ扇に秋のさそはれてまづ手なれぬる閨の月影
| kaze kayou ōgi ni aki no sasowarete mazu te narenuru neya no tsukikage |
The breeze wafted By my fan to autumn Beckons; Accustomed before me to have A moonlit bed. |
261
Right (Win).
うちはらふ扇の風のほどなきに思ひこめたる荻の音かな
| uchiharau ōgi no kaze no hodo naki ni omoikometaru ogi no oto kana |
Sweeping My fan, the breeze Ceaselessly Brings thoughts of Rustling silver grass. |
262
Both teams consider the other’s poems to be ‘not bad’ this round.
Shunzei, however, finds fault with both: ‘The Left’s “bed” (neya) does occur in both Chinese poetry and our own, however, I cannot help but find it undesirable. The Right’s “Sweeping my fan” (uchiharau ōgi) and “Brings thoughts of silver grass” (omoikometaru ogi) are both fine examples of mangled expression, and are, moreover, unclear. Thus, “a moonlit bed” must win, I feel.
Left (Tie).
雪の色の夏も消えせぬかひやこれ扇の風の秋よりもけに
| yuki no iro no natsu mo kiesenu kai ya kore ōgi no kaze no aki yori mo ke ni |
The hue of snow Unmelted in summer Must have some effect for My fan’s breeze has More than autumn’s… |
259
Right (Tie).
うたゝ寢に扇をならす床の上の月と風とは秋の物かは
| utatane ni ōgi o narasu toko no ue no tsuki to kaze to wa aki no mono ka wa |
Dozing and Wafting a fan Above my bed: Do both moon and breeze Belong to autumn? |
260
The Right state that ‘Both “some effect” (kai ya kore) and “more than…” (ke ni) seem somewhat insufficient.’ The Left wonder, ‘if the fan’s shape, making the moon “belong to autumn” (aki no mono ka wa) is enough?’
Shunzei judges, ‘Both the Left and Right poems seem most charming. A winner is lacking.’
Left (Tie).
みな月の照る日もいかで過ぐさまし頼む扇の風なかりせば
| mina tsuki no teru hi mo ikade sugusamashi tanomu ōgi no kaze nakariseba |
The Sixth Month’s Sunshine-filled days: how Might I endure them? Lacking support from a fan Brought breeze… |
255
Right (Tie).
涼しさは扇の風もかはらねば秋はこれもや身にはしむらん
| suzushisa wa ōgi no kaze mo kawaraneba aki wa kore mo ya mi ni wa shimuran |
In coolness A fan-brought breeze Differs not, so In autumn would it, too, Pierce the heart? |
256
The Right state that ‘the Left’s poem appears to have no problems’, while the Left remark ‘the gentlemen of the Right are doubtless pierced to the heart!’ (implying that the Right’s poem is simply stating the obvious).
Shunzei simply states, ‘The Left’s “support from a fan” (tanomu ōgi) and the Right’s “in autumn would it, too” (aki wa kore mo ya) must be judged to be of the same quality.’
Left.
手にならす夏の扇と思へどもたゞ秋風のすみかなりけり
| te ni narasu natsu no ōgi to omoedomo tada aki kaze no sumika narikeri |
Wafting in hand My fan in summer And wonder if ‘Tis just here that the autumn breeze Has found his lodging… |
253
Right (Win).
夕まぐれならす扇の風にこそかつがつ秋は立ちはじめけれ
| yūmagure narasu ōgi no kaze ni koso katsugatsu aki wa tachihajimekere |
At eventide Wafting a fan; With the breeze An early autumn Rises, begun. |
254
The Right complain that in the Left’s poem ‘my fan in summer’ (natsu no ōgi) sounds old-fashioned, while ‘the autumn breeze has found his lodging’ (kaze no sumika) sounds modern. The Left comment, ‘The expression ‘rises begun’ (tachihajimu) seems to have little connection with fans,’ to which the Right reply, ‘It is normal to imply a relationship with autumn. There is also the example of “Lady Pan’s Fan” to build on.
Shunzei’s judgement short, and to the point, ‘The Left’s “‘Tis just here that the autumn breeze” (tada aki kaze no) is not as good as the Right’s “An early autumn” (katsugatsu aki wa) and so the latter wins.’’
Left (Tie).
つくづくと幾代のことか思はまし晝に變らぬ夏の夜ならば
| tsukuzuku to ikuyo no koto ka omowamashi hiru ni kawaranu natsu no yo naraba |
On and on, About times long gone Would I ponder, if Last as long as daylight Did the summer nights… |
229
Right (Tie).
時鳥鳴く一聲に明くる夜も待つには秋の心地こそすれ
| hototogisu naku hito koe ni akuru yo mo matsu ni wa aki no kokochi koso sure |
The cuckoo’s Single call Brings the dawn to night; Awaiting it, as autumn It does seem! |
230
The Right state that, ‘We do not feel that that one spends a summer night dwelling constantly on the past, as is the case in autumn.’ In reply, the Left say, ‘Why not? Summer days are certainly long enough, so why would one not continue to do so? As for your poem, if it is the cuckoo doing the waiting, it would seem that the poem is on the theme of cuckoos, and it fails to seem like one on the topic of summer nights.’
Shunzei simply comments tersely, ‘The defects of both poems this round have been adequately comprehended. A tie.’