Tsurayuki’s Poetry Match,[i] 28^th day of the Second Month, Tengyō 2[ii]

The beginning of spring.

Left

白雪のみにふりながら梅の花をりつるほどに春は来にけり

shirayuki no mi ni furinagara mume no hana oritsuru hodo ni haru wa kinikeri

Snow, so white, Falling upon my flesh, While the plum blossom, Branches are breaking Spring has come!

1

Right

鶯の巣立ちし日よりはるばるとおもひは音にぞまづなかれける

uguisu no sudachishi hi yori harubaru to omoi wa ne ni zo mazu nakareru

Since the day the bush warbler Departed his nest, Endlessly Have I thought his song For the present has not been here.

2

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[i] Tsurayuki uta’awase 貫之歌合

[ii] 21 March 939