Composed on early summer rain, while at the estate of Minister of the Emperor’s Household Tsunenaga at Katsurayama.
梅雨は見えし小笹の原もなしあさかの沼の心地のみして
| samidare Fa miesi wozasa no Fara mo nasi asaka no numa no kokoti nomi site |
Summer showers Have I seen, but broad-leaved bamboo Groves are there none; Asaka marsh is Simply what this feels like! |
Fujiwara no Norinaga
藤原範永
Left.
憂しつらし安積の沼の草の名よかりにも深き縁は結ばで
| ushi tsurashi asaka no numa no kusa no na yo kari ni mo fukaki en wa musubade |
How cruel and cold! At Asaka Marsh The once seen reeds do grow; Briefly, a deep Bond will not be made. |
645
Right.
かゝりける姿の池の鴛の聲聞きては袖の濡れし數かは
| kakarikeru sugata no ike no oshi no koe kikite wa sode no nureshi kazu ka wa |
Such a Form! On Sugata Pond The loving mandarin duck calls I hear and my sleeves: Drenched how many times? |
646
Neither team has any criticisms this round.
Shunzei’s judgement: ‘The Left’s ‘At Asaka Marsh’ (asaka no numa) and the Right’s ‘On Sugata Pond the loving mandarin duck calls’ (sugata no ike no oshi no koe) are both tasteful in diction [yū no kotoba ni wa haberu], but beginning with ‘How cruel and cold!’ (ushi tsurashi) sounds like the poet is writing a love letter, and this is overly informal for a poetry competition [uta’awase ni wa kegen naru yō ni ya haberan]. ‘On Sugata Pond the loving mandarin duck calls’ is charming, but why did the poet not continue with ‘I did hear and my sleeves’ (kikishi wa sode no)? In any case, this round neither poem is markedly superior to the other.
Left.
櫻色の袖もひとへにかはるまでうつりにけりな過る月日は
| sakura iro no sode mo hitoe ni kawaru made utsurinikeri na suguru tsukihi wa |
Cherry-coloured Sleeves for single-fold Garb are changed; All already faded, With the passing months and days… |
29
Right (Win)
ふみしだく安積の沼の夏草にかつみだれそふしのぶもぢずり
| fumishidaku asaka no numa no natsukusa ni katsumidare sou shinobu mojizuri |
Crushed beneath my feet At the marsh of Asaka In the summer grasses A confusion of irises Longingly imprint their pattern. |
30
For a picture of Asaka Marsh, drawn on a screen in the Saishō Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings.
のべはいまだあさかのぬまにかるくさのかつ見るまゝにしげるころかな
| nobe wa imada asaka no numa ni karu kusa no katsu miru mama ni shigeru koro kana |
Not yet in the fields, but At the marsh of Asaka The stalks for reaping of Wild rice – under my eyes Grow lushly upwards now. |
Fujiwara no Masatsune (1170 – 1221)
Topic unknown.
みちのくのあさかのぬまの花かつみかつ見る人にこひやわたらむ
| mitinoku no asaka no numa no Fanakatumi katu miru Fito ni koFi ya wataramu |
In Michinoku At the marsh of Asaka Irises I see, and I see my lover, too, but rarely, so Will this love continue, I wonder? |
Anonymous