Only the date of this contest remains, along with two of its poems. Given the season, it would clearly have been an autumn-themed event and, as the 15th day of the Eighth Month was when conventionally the moon was at its brightest, it is not surprising that it seems to have been held at night, and contained at least some poems where the moon was a theme.
Of the two surviving poems, one was included in Fubokushō (XIV: 5840), while the other is only recorded here.
いそのかみふるのやしろにはふくずもあきにしなれば色かはりけり
isonokami Furu no yasiro ni haFu kuzu mo aki ni shi nareba iro kaFarikeri
In Isonokami At the ancient shrine of Furu Even the creeping kudzu vine When the autumn comes Does change its hues.
1
Right
山のはももみぢてちりぬ月影のかくるるところなくなりぬべし
yama no Fa mo momidite tirinu tukikage no kakururu tokoro nakunarinubesi
Along the mountains’ edge Scarlet leaves have scattered In the moonlight A place concealed Is there none, at all.
After Izumi Shikibu had been abandoned by Michisada, Akazome Emon heard that almost immediately Prince Atsumichi had begun to visit her, and sent her this:
うつろはでしばしゝのだのもりをみよかへりもぞするくずのうら風
utsurowade
shibashi shinoda no
mori o miyo
kaeri mo zo suru
kuzu no ura kaze
Turn not! And
For a while on Shinoda
Forest rest your gaze!
For it may return again:
The breeze ‘neath the arrowroot leaves.
kuzu no ha ni
urami ni kaeru
yume no yo o
wasure gatami no
nobe no aki kaze
The arrowroot leaves
Show their undersides–in despite I return
To a dream–the world of lovers–
So difficult to forget–
In the breeze across the fields.
The Daughter of Master of the Dowager Empress’ Household Office Toshinari
