朝露のおくての稲は稲妻を恋ふと濡れてや乾かざるらむ
| asatuyu no okute no ine Fa inaduma wo koFu to nurete ya kawakazaruramu |
Morning dew Falls upon the sprouting rice; Is it the lightning’s Love that wets it, so It does never seem to dry? |
Tag Archives: Lightning
Kokin rokujō I: 817
Kokin rokujō I: 816
Kokin rokujō I: 815
Kokin rokujō I: 814
Kokin rokujō I: 813
Sanboku kikashū II: 316
Autumn I: 18
Left (Left).
風渡る淺茅が上の露にだに宿りも果てぬ宵の稲妻
| kaze wataru asaji ga ue no tsuyu ni dani yadori mo hatenu yoi no inazuma |
Brushed by the breeze, Atop the cogon grass The dewdrops but Briefly rest: Lightning at dusk. |
335
Right.
眺むれば風吹く野邊の露にだに宿りも果てぬ稲妻の影
| nagamureba kaze fuku nobe no tsuyu ni dani yadori mo hatenu inazuma no kage |
Idly gazing Across the windblown meadow; The dewdrops but Briefly rest: Lightning’s light. |
336
The Right simply say, ‘The Left’s poem is fine, is it not!’ The Left, however, grumble, ‘We cannot see how the final phrase relates to what has come before.’
Shunzei states, ‘Both poems are remarkably similar in spirit and diction, with the Left concluding “lightning at dusk” (yoi no inazuma) and the Right with “lightning’s light” (inazuma no kage) – is there really much to choose between them? The Left wins.’
Autumn I: 17
Left (Win).
はかなしや荒れたる宿のうたゝ寢に稲妻通ふ手枕の露
| hakanashi ya aretaru yado no utatane ni inazuma kayou tamakura no tsuyu |
How brief it was! In a ruined dwelling Dozing, when Lightning crossed The dewdrops on my pillowing arm… |
333
Right.
すだき來し澤の螢は影消てたえだえ宿る宵の稲妻
| sudakikoshi sawa no hotaru wa kage kiete taedae yadoru yoi no inazuma |
All together have The fireflies above the marsh Lost their light; Briefly remaining, Lightning at the dusk… |
334
The Right state that they have no criticisms of the Left’s poem. The Left wonder about the suitability of fireflies disappearing in the autumn.
Shunzei feels, ‘The Left’s poem is certainly charming in form and expression, but more thought should have been given to the initial phrase “How brief it was!” (hakanashi ya). The Right’s poem, too, is charming, and as for fireflies being a topic for summer poetry alone, in autumn it is acceptable to compose on the failing of their light, is it not? Did not Anjin compose “Fireflies flashing on the palace stairs and gates/Crickets crying from the eaves and tiles”? There is also the example from the Collection of Songs to Sing Aloud of “Seeking cuckoo calls in the dawntime clouds/Innumerable fireflies flit among the autumn grasses”. Still, the Left’s “dewdrops on my pillowing arm” wins, I think.’
Autumn I: 16
Left.
宵の間の月待つ程の雲間より思はぬ影を見する稲妻
| yoi no ma no tsuki matsu hodo no kumoma yori omowanu kage o misuru inazuma |
In the early evening While waiting for the moon, From between the clouds All unexpected is the light Of lightning. |
331
Right (Win).
夕月夜かげろふ宵の雲間より光をかへて照らす稲妻
| yūzukuyo kagerō yoi no kumoma yori hikari o kaete terasu inazuma |
The evening moon Misty is at dusk, when From between the clouds Comes a different light: A flash of lightning! |
The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.
332
Neither team finds any fault with the other’s poem this round.
Shunzei, however, says, ‘Both poems contain the line “from between the clouds” (kumoma yori), with the Left “while waiting for the moon” (tsuki matsu hodo) and the Right “The evening moon misty is at dusk” (yūzukuyo kagerō yoi). In addition to the fact that “misty” is far more charming in relation to an “evening moon”, than “waiting for the moon”, “all unexpected is the light” (omowanu kage) is not an expression I find particularly pleasing. “Comes a different light” (hikari o kaete) seem much finer. Thus, I make the right the winner.’