Tag Archives: akikaze

Autumn I: 8

Left (Win).

呉竹に過ぐる秋風さ夜更けて奠るほどにや星合の空

kuretake ni
suguru akikaze
sayo fukete
matsuru hodo ni ya
hoshiai no sora
When the black bamboo
Is brushed by autumn breeze, and
Night falls,
Is it time to celebrate?
Stars meeting in the heavens…

Lord Kanemune.

315

Right.

九重に今日奠るをば七夕のたゞ一夜にも嬉しとや見る

kokonoe ni
kyō matsuru oba
tanabata no
tada hito yo ni mo
ureshi to ya miru
Within the Ninefold Palace walls
This day we celebrate,
The lovers on
Just a single night:
Are they pleased, I wonder?

The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.

316

The Right state, ‘“Is it time to celebrate? Stars meeting in the heavens” (matsuru hodo ni ya hoshiai no sora) – the one does not seem to follow from the other. The Left wonder, ‘why we have an annual rite describe as “a single night” (tada hito yo), and not “but one night a year” (toshi ni hito yo)?’

Shunzei merely remarks, ‘“Is it time to celebrate? Stars meeting in the heavens” – this certainly does follow on, and there is nothing wrong with it. The point about “a single night” is well made. The Left wins.’

Autumn I: 3

Left (Tie).

秋風の吹も強らぬ眞葛原夏の氣色に猶かへる哉

aki kaze no
fuki mo tsuyoranu
makuzuwara
natsu no keshiki ni
nao kaeru kana
The autumn wind
Blows with such little strength that
The field of arrowroot
To its summer scene
Has yet returned.

Lord Ari’ie.

305

Right (Tie).

秋來てもまだひとへなる衣手に厭はぬ程の風ぞ吹なる

aki kitemo
mada hitoenaru
koromode ni
itowanu hodo no
kaze zo fukunaru
Autumn has come, and yet
For my still single-layered
Sleeves
There is no respite in
The breath of wind

Ietaka.

306

The Right state, ‘The expression “little strength” (tsuyoranu) is particularly grating on the ear.’ The Left respond, ‘And what are we really to make of the expression, “no respite in the breath of wind” (itowanu hodo no kaze)? Even in “O, blow my cares away,/First breeze of Autumn!” (kokorosite Fuke aki no Fatukaze), one does not get a sense of dislike for the wind. Furthermore, the core sense of the poem seems inappropriately chilly for the topic.’

Shunzei’s judgement is that, ‘the criticisms of both teams have merit. The Left’s “little strength” is as stated. As for the spirit of the Right’s poem, does not “O, blow my cares away” (kokorosite Fuke) mean that the coolness brings no respite? While the spirit of “Lingering Heat” certainly contains the key sense that things have become slightly cooler, as I said in the last round. In any case, this round is a tie.’

Miscellaneous 89

Left (Tie).

世の中を思ふ軒端の忍草いく代の宿と荒れかはてなん

yo no naka o
omou nokiba no
shinobugusa
iku yo no yado to
are ka hatenan
The everyday world stands
In my thoughts, as beneath my eaves,
The ferns, each one a frond of memory:
How many ages has my dwelling stood,
Now falling to desolation?

177

Right (Tie).

たまゆらの露も涙もとゞまらずなき人こふる宿の秋風

tamayura no
tsuyu mo namida mo
todomarazu
nakibito kōru
yado no akikaze
Gemlet
Dewdrops and tears both,
Stay not;
She who is gone loved so
This house, brushed by autumn winds…

178

Miscellaneous 88

Left (Tie).

都出でゝあさたつ山の手向より露置とめぬ秋風ぞ吹

miyako idete
asa tatsu yama no
tamuke yori
tsuyu okitomenu
akikaze zo fuku
Leaving the Capital,
Departing with the morn, mountain
Made offerings, are
Stripped of dewdrops, by
The gusting Autumn wind.

175

Right (Tie).

旅人の袖吹かへす秋風に夕日さびしき山の梯

tabibito no
sode fukikaesu
akikaze ni
yūhi ni sabishiki
yama no kakehashi
A traveller’s
Sleeves turned inside-out
By the autumn wind:
Desolate in the evening sunlight,
A span between the mountain crags…

176

Miscellaneous 86

Left (Tie).

忘れなむ松となつげそなかなかに因幡の山の峰の秋風

wasurenamu
matsu to na tsuge so
nakanaka ni
inaba no yama no
mine no akikaze
I would forget!
And of my pining, tell no-one –
That would be preferable, by far!
Around Inaba Mountain’s
Peak, gusting autumn wind.

171

Right (Tie).

いづくにかこよひは宿をかり衣日もゆふぐれの峰の嵐に

izuku ni ka
koyoi wa yado o
karikoromo
hi mo yūgure no
mine no arashi ni
O, where
This night shelter might I
Find, my hunting-garb’s
Belt tied day and night,
Against the stormwind from the peaks…

172

Love 79

Left.

心からあくがれそめし花の香になを物思ふ春の曙

kokoro kara
akugaresomeshi
hana no ka ni
nao mono’omou
haru no akebono
My heart
From the very first did love
The blossoms’ scent, which
Still, brings me to thoughts of you
This spring dawning…

157

Right (Win).

白妙の袖のわかれに露落て身にしむ色の秋風ぞ吹

shirotae no
sode no wakare ni
tsuyu ochite
mi ni shimu iro no
aki kaze zo fuku
White mulberry-cloth
Sleeves parting:
Dew dropped,
The colours stain my soul,
Yearning carried on the autumn wind.

158