From the Poetry Contest in 1500 Rounds.
あさ日かげにほへる山のさくら花つれなくきえぬ雪かとぞみる
| asahi kage nioeru yama no sakurabana tsurenaku kienu yuki ka to zo miru | Daybreak sunrise Lights the mountains’ Cherry blossom— A stubbornly resistant Snowfall do they seem to be? |
Lord Fujiwara no Ari’ie
Left (Tie).
さやかなる秋にもまされあはれかな月影かすむ有明の空
| sayakanaru aki no mo masare aware kana tsuki kage kasumu ariake no sora |
The clarity of Autumn, too, is splendid and Moving, indeed, I feel in The hazy moonlight from The daybreak sky. |
119
Right (Tie).
今はとてたのむの雁もうちわびぬ朧月夜の明ぼのゝ空
| ima wa tote tanomu no kari mo uchiwabinu oborozukiyo no akebono no sora |
‘Now we must return,’ The field resting geese Lament, under the Misty moonlit Dawning sky. |
120
The Right team once again rate the Left’s poem as ‘satisfying’, while the Left say the Right’s is ‘especially satisfying. ’
Shunzei’s judgement is that ‘the Left’s “hazy moonlight from the daybreak sky” (tsuki kage kasumu ariake no sora) and the Right’s “Misty moonlit dawning sky” (oborozukiyo no akebono no sora) are both splendid. It is difficult, indeed, to decide between them. Another excellent tie.’
Left (Tie).
あぢきなくつらきあらしの聲もうしなど夕暮に待ならひけん
| ajikinaku tsuraki arashi no koe mo ushi nado yûgure ni matsu naraiken |
Dreary, The heartless storm-wind’s Roar is cruel, indeed; Why, at eventide To wait, have I become accustomed? |
129
Right (Tie).
歸るさのものとや人のながむ覧待夜ながらの有明の月
| kaeru sa no mono to ya hito no nagamuran matsu yo nagara no ariake no tsuki |
On his way home Does he Gaze upon it, I wonder? While I wait the whole night through, ‘Til the moon meets daybreak… |
130