Round Twelve
Left
我がやどものこる花なくうゑつれど野べのけしきは猶ぞ床しき
wa ga yado mo
nokoru hana naku
uetsuredo
nobe no keshiki wa
nao zo yukashiki | At my dwelling
Lingering blooms are there none
Though I did plant them,
The prospect of a meadow is
Charming still! |
Lord Fujiwara no Kiyosuke, Senior Secretary of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office
23
Right
秋萩の枝もとををにおく露のはらはばあやな花やちりなん
akihagi no
eda mo tōo ni
oku tsuyu no
harawaba aya na
hana ya chirinan | The autumn bush-clover
Branches bent with
Fallen dewdrops—
Should I sweep them off, then
Would the blossoms scatter, I wonder? |
Lay Priest and Master of the Left Capital Office Norinaga
24
Doesn’t the Right seem to resemble the poem in the Ancient and Modern Collection which says
をりてみば落ちぞしぬべき秋萩の枝もとををにおけるしら露
oritemiba
ochi zo shinubeki
akihagi no
eda mo tōo ni
okeru shiratsuyu | Were I to pluck one,
‘Twould fall and smash:
Autumn bush-clover’s
Branches bent
With fallen silver dewdrops. |
Round Ten
Left (Win)
色色に心ぞうつる秋ののは露もあだなる花しなければ
iroiro ni
kokoro zo utsuru
aki no no wa
tsuyu mo adanaru
hana shi nakereba | From one to another
My heart does shift, for
In the autumn meadows
Even a slightly unattractive
Bloom is there not a one… |
Master Shinkaku
19
Right
花すすき風のけしきにしたがひて心おこらぬ人なまねきそ
hanasusuki
kaze no keshiki ni
shitagaite
kokoro okoranu
hito na maneki so | O, silver grass!
The feelings of the wind
Follow, and
Folk whose hearts will not be moved
Beckon not! |
Lay Priest and Supernumerary Director of the Bureau of Horses, Right Division Sanekiyo
20
The Left, in terms of both conception and diction seems to be much better composed than the Right.
Left (Win).
夜とともに玉散る床の菅枕見せばや人に夜半の景色を
yo to tomo ni
tama tiru toko no
sugamakura
miseba ya Fito ni
yowa no kesiki wo |
Together with the night
Gemlets scatter on my bed’s
Sedge-filled pillow;
Should I show her
This midnight sight? |
The Master 大夫
[Minamoto no Toshiyori 源俊頼]
27
Right.
波のよる岩根に立てる磯馴れ松また寝もいらで恋ひあかしつる
nami no yoru
iFane ni tateru
sonare matu
mata ne mo irade
koFi akasituru |
The waves roll in
To the cliffs where stands
A hardy pine upon the rocks;
Once more sleepless
From love do I greet the dawn. |
The Assistant Master 佐
[Fujiwara no Mototoshi 藤原基俊]
28
Fans (扇)
つねよりも身にもしむかな夕ざれの君にあふぎのかぜの気色は
tsune yori mo
mi ni mo shimu kana
yūsare no
kimi ni ōgi no
kaze no keshiki wa |
More than normal does
It pierce my soul!
At early evening,
The sight of you
By fan’s breeze brushed… |
Minamoto no Akinaka
An allusive variation on: Horikawa hyakushu 646.
Left (Win).
袖のうへになるるも人の形見かは我と宿せる秋の夜の月
sode no ue ni
naruru mo hito no
katami ka wa
ware to yadoseru
aki no yo no tsuki |
Resting atop my sleeves
Of my love so fond
Are these keepsakes?
Remaining with me, alone
Is the moon this autumn night… |
A Servant Girl.
911
Right.
ひとり住む宿の気色とあはれとや憂き身とゝもに在明の月
hitori sumu
yado no keshiki to
aware to ya
ukimi to tomo ni
ariake no tsuki |
Living alone,
Is the sight of my home
So pitiful?
Alike are we in desolation,
O, dawntime moon! |
Lord Tsune’ie.
912
The Right state: the Left’s poem has no faults. The Left state: the Right’s poem lacks a clear conception of love.
In judgement: the Left’s poem, indeed, has no faults. It should win.
消えはてて煙は空にかすむとも雲のけしきを我としらじな
kiehatete
keburi wa sora ni
kasumu tomo
kumo no keshiki o
ware to shiraji na | All but gone,
The smoke across the sky
Is hazed, yet
In the vista of the clouds,
You would not know ’tis I. |
211
Created with Soan.
In reply:
かすめよな思ひ消えなむ煙にもたちおくれてはくゆらざらまし
kasumeyo na
omoi kienamu
keburi ni mo
tachiokurete wa
kuyurazaramashi | O, let it be hazed!
Should I from love’s fires, and
In smoke
Drift away,
I would not want to waver! |
212
Created with Soan.
'Simply moving and elegant'
