Tag Archives: oaks

Summer II: 5

Left (Tie).

尋入る楢の葉陰の重なりてさてしもかろき夏衣かな

tazuneiru
nara no hakage no
kasanarite
sateshimo karoki
natsugoromo kana
Entering within
The oak leaves’ shade,
Layer upon layer;
Still, how light
Is my summer garb!

Lord Sada’ie.

249

Right (Tie).

花の色の袖は重ねし物なれどひとへに惜しき蝉の羽衣

hana no iro no
sode wa kasaneshi
mono naredo
hitoe ni oshiki
semi no hagoromo
Cherry blossom hued
Sleeves lay one upon the other
And yet now,
A single, deep regret:
For the cicada’s gossamer garb…

The Provisional Master of the Empress’ Household Office.

250

Neither team has any criticisms to make this round.

Shunzei merely remarks, ‘The Left’s poem has “still, how light” (sateshimo karoki) and the Right’s “sleeves lay one upon the other and yet now” (sode wa kasaneshi mono naredo): both of these are only close to the topic, I feel. The round ties.’

Summer I: 5

Left (Win).

わが宿の庭こそ暗くなりにけれ楢の廣葉の陰やそふらん

wa ga yado no
niwa koso kuraku
narinikere
nara no hiroha no
kage ya souran
My lodging’s
Garden much darker
Has become;
Have the broad-leaved oaks
Laid shadows down?

Lord Kanemune.

189

Right.

紅葉ゆへ植へし梢のあさみどり色には秋を思ふのみかは

momiji yue
ueshi kozue no
asamidori
iro ni wa aki o
omou nomi ka wa
For scarlet leaves
I planted trees – tops now
Pale green;
For the hues of autumn
Alone I hope no longer.

Ietaka.

190

The Right state bluntly, ‘Using ‘darker’ (kuraku) in this poem is highly vulgar!’ But the Left snap back, ‘Composing with “darker” is completely commonplace.’ They have no comments to make about the Right’s poem.

Shunzei remarks, ‘The Left’s “garden much darker” (niwa koso kuraku) has nothing problematic about it. “Broad-leaved oaks” (nara no hiroha), although a commonplace expression, is undesirable here. The purport of the Right’s “for the hues of autumn” (iro ni wa aki o) seems rather contrived, yet one wonders if “scarlet leaves” (momiji yue) might not be concealed beneath the “broad-leaved oaks”! The Left’s poem, being more unaffected, wins.’

Winter 43

Left (Win).

朝夕の音は時雨のならしばにいつ降りかはる霰なるらん

asa yū no
oto wa shigure no
narashiba ni
itsu furikawaru
arare naruran
Morn and night
The sound of rain upon
Oaken boughs;
When, I wonder, did it change
To hail?

85

Right

霰降しづがさゝ屋のそよさらに一夜ばかりの夢をやは見る

arare furi
shizu ga sasaya no
soyo sara ni
hito yo bakari no
yume o ya wa miru
Hailstones fall
Upon my mean bamboo roof;
Will I, at least,
Briefly this night
Catch a glimpse of dreams?

86