Composed and sent when he heard that Inspector Kinmichi had had a number of people compose poems on the bush warbler at his residence.
春霞たちへだつれど鶯の声はかくれぬものとしらずや
| harugasumi tachihedatsuredo uguisu no koe wa kakurenu mono to shirazu ya | The haze of spring Arising, interferes, yet The warbler Is unable to conceal his cry— I wonder if he know it? |
Former Consultant Tsunemori
Love.
Left
人知れぬ恋の涙はうぐひすの初声にこそながれいでぬれ
| hito shirenu koi no namida wa uguisu no hatsukoe ni koso nagare’idenure | Unknown to all My tears of love With the warbler’s First cry have Burst into flow! |
3
Right
いかならむときか忘れむ春霞たちゐる空も君ぞこひしき
| ika naramu toki ka wasuremu harugasumi tachi’iru sora mo kimi zo koishiki | What is to become of me? Can I forget the time, when The spring haze Rising into the skies, too, Was dear to me as you? |
4
Maple
はるがすみたちそめしよりいろかへてのはならしてきわかなつむべく
| harugasumi tachi someshi yori iro kaete no wa narashiteki wakana tsumubeku | Since the haze of spring Began to rise, Hues changing, Upon the plains have grown Fresh herbs that we may pick them! |
14
This poem is an acrostic, with ‘maple blossom’ (kaede no hana) contained within kaete no wa narashiteki.
Original
ちはやぶるかすがのはらにこきまぜてはなともみゆるかみのきねかな
| chihayaburu kasuga no hara ni kokimazete hana tomo miyuru kami no kine kana | On mighty Kasuga plain All blend together Blossom seen with The God’s servitors! |
Mitsune
10
Left (Win)
かすがののはなとはまたも見えぬべしいまこむはるのかざしがてらに
| kasugano no hana to wa mata mo mienubeshi ima komu haru no kazashigatera ni | Kasuga Plain’s Blossom once more Could be seen, In the spring now lying ahead, As a garland in its hair… |
11
Right
はるがすみたちまじりつつゆくからにあだにもはなとみえにけるかな
| harugasumi tachimajiritsutsu yuku kara ni ada ni mo hana to mienikeru kana | Amidst the haze of spring Standing Have we come, so It might be untrue, but as blossom Do we seem! |
12
The Lady of the Right on this occasion mistook the word ‘plain’ in the original poem and wrote down ‘meadow’ instead. This was challenged by the Lady of the Left, saying, ‘That’s what we heard. When someone composes at variance with the conception of the topic, that’s a loss. Thus, the Lady of the Right loses.’
Tadafusa then said to His Majesty, ‘The character used to write “plain” can, in fact, also be used to write “field”. Even though the Right is inferior, it is still a fine poem, and so I would make this a tie.’
His Majesty responded, ‘The does not correspond to what has been said. You don’t seem to reached a logical conclusion.’
Tadafusa silently bowed his head, and after long while, eventually, said, ‘What the Lady of the Left has said is logical and appropriate.’
‘Well, then, judge again, based on this,’ His Majesty instructed, and the Lady of the Right lost, and was not permitted another composition.
Round Seven
Left (Tie)
けさはまたそれともみえず淡路島霞のしたに浦風ぞ吹く
| kesa wa mata sore tomo miezu awajishima kasumi no shita ni urakaze zo fuku | This morning, once again, I cannot that clearly see Awaji Isle, but Beneath the haze The winds are blowing o’er the beach! |
Chikanari, Ranked without Office
13
Right
春霞なびく朝けの塩風にあらぬけぶりや浦に立つらん
| harugasumi nabiku asake no shiokaze ni aranu keburi ya ura ni tatsuran | Spring haze Trails over with the morn— Salt-fire breezes It is not, yet does smoke Seem to rise across the bay? |
Ie’kiyo, Ranked without Office
14
Both Left and Right don’t seem bad. I make them a tie.
Haze
大かたに春のきぬれば春霞よもの山辺にたちみちにけり
| ōkata ni haru no kinureba harugasumi yomo no yamabe ni tachimichinikeri | All around Has spring arrived, so Vernal hazes Here and there upon the mountainsides Have risen to cover all. |
