ono ga sumu mine no kogarashi samuki yo wa shika mo momiji no koromo kirurashi
Where he dwells upon The peak, the bitter wind On a night so chill, for The stag, of scarlet leaves Does seem to make a robe.
The Supernumerary Major Counsellor 69
Right
すみのぼる月にうらむる声すなりねられぬ鹿や夜寒なるらん
suminoboru tsuki ni uramuru koesunari nerarenu shika ya yozamu naruran
Climbing clearly At the moon, in despair Does he cry— Sleepless, does the stag Feel night’s chill, perhaps?
Nobunari 70
The Left’s poem has ‘the stag, of scarlet leaves does seem to make a robe’ which sounds charming, and the Right’s poem has ‘sleepless, does the stag feel night’s chill, perhaps’, which appears refined. Thus, they tie.
au koto o sono toshitsuki to chigiraneba inochi ya koi no kagiri naruramu
That we might meet For months and years She has not promised, so My life will my love’s Limit be, no doubt!
Lord Shigemoto 69
Right
よとともにもえこそわたれ我が恋は不二の高根のけぶりならねど
yo to tomo ni moe koso watare wa ga koi wa fuji no takane no keburi naranedo
With the coming of the night Ever burning is My love, though From Fuji’s peak Smoke it is not…
Lord Toshitaka 70
Toshiyori states: the first poem doesn’t seem bad. The second poem nothing but cliched. Thus, the first poem should win.
Mototoshi states: while love lasting lifelong without even a promise to meet over years and months is a painfully moving conception, someone burning every night is dear, too. Thus, it’s not inferior and these are of the same quality.
