Composed in Settsu.
志長鳥 居名野乎来者 有間山 夕霧立 宿者無而
しながとりゐなのをくればありまやまゆふぎりたちぬやどりはなくて
| sinagatori winano wo kureba arimayama yupugiri tatinu yadori pa nakute | A waterbird’s long cry At Ina plain where I have come, In the Arima Mountains The evening mists have risen, and No lodging is there for me… |
Anonymous
Composed for the Poetry Match held at the Residence of Imperial Princess Sukeko (5/6/Eishō 5 kōshin [26.6.1050]).
をぐら山たちどもみえぬゆふぎりにつままどはせるしかぞなくなる
| wogurayama tatidomo mienu yuFugiri ni tuma madoFaseru sika zo nakunaru | On gloomy Ogura Mountain Stands unseen Among the evening mists Having lost his mate A belling stag. |
Gō no jijū
江侍従
Left (Win).
夕霧に千草の花はこもれども隱れぬ物は蟲の聲ごゑ
| yūgiri ni chigusa no hana wa komoredomo kakurenu mono wa mushi no koegoe | In the evening mists A multitude of blooms Are enveloped, yet Unhidden are The insects’ songs… |
375
Right.
野邊の色はみな薄墨に成にけりしばしと見ゆ夕霧の空
| nobe no iro wa mina usuzumi ni narinikeri shibashi to miyu yūgiri no sora | The fields’ hues Have all with a weak wash of ink Been overlayed; Only briefly yet visible Is the misty evening sky… |
376
The Right state that, ‘The Left’s poem is supposed to be on the theme of “evening mists”, but it seems to be more focussed on “insects”. The Left counter with, ‘the use of “weak wash of ink” (usuzumi) is unsuited to the end of the poem. The theme of “autumn evenings” is dully depicted, is it not?’
Shunzei’s judgement: Although the Left’s poem does begin with ‘in the evening mists’ (yūgiri ni), it certainly is a poem on insects. In terms of diction, though, ‘all with a weak wash of ink’ (mina usuzumi) is not permissible. Thus, even though it is on insects, the Left wins.