[One of] twenty-four poems sent by Lady Kasa to Lord Ōtomo no Yakamochi.
わが形見見つつ偲はせあらたまの年の緒長くわれも思はむ
| wa ga katami mitutu sinopase aratama no tosi no wo nagaku ware mo omopamu |
On a keepsake of me Gaze and think of me; Fresh-jewelled as The years’ long thread Will my thoughts follow you. |
Left.
何か我今朝名残を歎かまし帰る程なく暮るる日ならば
| nani ka ware kesa nagori o nagekamashi kaenu hodo naku kururu hi naraba |
Why should I This morning for my keepsake Have only grief? If but a while from leaving The sun sets once again… |
711
Right (Win).
しばしなる今朝の別に見つる哉心がはりの行末の夢
| shibashinaru kesa no wakare ni mitsuru kana kokoro gawari no yukusue no yume |
For just a while At this morning’s parting Did I see it: Your change of heart In a prescient dream… |
712
The Gentlemen of the Right state: the Left’s poem is entirely in the conception of a morning after poem. This does not match the conception of this topic. The Gentlemen of the Left state: the sense of the Right’s poem is difficult to grasp. The use of ‘dream’ (yume) does not fit with the remainder of the poem’s contents.
Shunzei’s judgement: in terms of the Left’s poem, the morning after is also a parting. What fault can be found in this? However, the Right’s ‘change of heart in a prescient dream’ sounds charming. Thus, the Right wins.
Left (Win).
暮ていにし秋の形見と思ふべき菊さへ色を變へてけるかな
| kurete’inishi aki no katami to omoubeki kiku sae iro o kaetekeru kana |
Night has fallen on Autumn’s keepsake – Or so I thought – Even the chrysanthemums’ hues Have changed… |
499
Right.
一枝も折りつる袖は白菊の匂ひまでこそ移ろひにけれ
| hito eda mo oritsuru sode wa shiragiku no nioi made koso utsuroinikere |
A single stem I plucked and to my sleeves The white chrysanthemums’ Scent, even, Has shifted… |
500
The Right have no criticisms to make of the Left’s poem. The Left state that there does not seem to be the conception of ‘lingering’ in the Right’s poem. In response, the Right say, ‘By the use of “even” (made) one can understand that the chrysanthemums’ hues have shifted as well. The use of “shift” (utsurou) expresses the conception of lingering [nokori no kokoro nari].
Shunzei’s judgement: The Left’s ‘Even the chrysanthemums’ hues’ (kiku sae iro o) seems most fine [yoroshiku koso haberumere]. The Right, too, with its ‘chrysanthemums’ scent’ (kiku no nioi) is particularly splendid [fukaku yū ni wa haberubeshi]. On the matter of the conception of lingering chrysanthemums [nokori no kiku no kokoro], the Right have said that ‘using “even the scent” expresses the conception of lingering’, which is true enough, but is it not that the scent has shifted to the poet’s sleeves, even though the flowers are chrysanthemums? Thus, the conception of a shift of hue must be somewhat weak [utsurou kokoro wa nao sukunakarubeku]. In any case, the Left’s conception of lingering is certainly stronger. The Left wins.
Left (Win).
忘るなよやどるたもとは變るともかたみにしぼる袖の月かげ
| wasuru na yo yadoru tamoto wa kawaru tomo katami ni shiboru sode no tsukikage |
O, forget me not! In your journey’s lodging, your sleeves May change, yet For a keepsake wring From them drops of moonlight. |
169
Right.
わかれても心へだつな旅衣幾えかさなる山路なりとも
| wakaretemo kokoro hedatsu na tabi koromo ikue kasanaru yamaji naritomo |
Though we may part, Keep me not from your heart, Though journey garb In many piled layers Of mountain paths lie in-between. |
170